Update On My Twelve Commandments

Photo from www.ladyokieblog.com

I wrote this blog post around two years ago when I started reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Reviewing it now gives me a sense of accomplishment to see how far I have come from the time I embarked on my happiness quest. 

My Twelve Commandments 

1. Do it now. I have become more diligent in doing the things I need to do without delay. I have also employed the one-minute rule which I discussed in my previous blog post.

2. Learn to shut up. Still struggling with this part. There are moments when I can't keep my mouth shut especially at the verge of my emotions but your secrets, they are safe with me. 

3. Stop overreacting. I have. And I saved myself from a lot of trouble.

4. Love. No need for explanation, I suppose.

5. Spend time with people. Much improvement in this. I try to always talk to my parents and accommodate friends as much as possible. It is a warm fuzzy feeling that I have forgotten once in my life.

6. Stop worrying. I have been struggling with this as well. But this year, I am employing a new mantra: Tranquilo. It means, "Take it easy." Let's see how it goes :)

7. Read. And write. And sing. And dance. Been doing a lot of this lately, thanks to my WAHW lifestyle.

8. Pray and find inner peace. Meditate. Go to Church. I still do and it has been immensely helpful in my outlook towards things.

9. Sharpen the Saw. Because of what I do now, it almost seems like I am sharpening my saw everyday because I love what I do (which is writing and reading). I still get to have my occasional perks like a massage and of course, shopping for books! Yay!

10. Choose your battles. I have and that's why I am where I am now.

11. Learn like a sponge. I have learned a lot in the past few months that I am out of my corporate life. I realized that learning is everywhere and cannot be contained in your office space. 

12. Be Balot. I wrote this in 2012 and the same applies : "This I got from my favorite poetry, Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. Noone can be me. And I don't even have to worry if you like me or not. I am who I am. Take it or leave it."

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Day 36: My Rubin Tendency

"The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world." -Toni Collette

I started on the Happiness Project sometime in 2012. I loved Gretchen Rubin and her eternal burst of sunshine. I follow her blog once in a while at The Happiness Project for some snippets of inspiration especially on a downtrodden moment (or if I don't have anything to do). 

Today, I stumbled upon this from her site and it was discussing how people would normally respond to expectations in relation to outer and inner perspective. This is from her website and I quote:


The Rubin Tendencies 
The Rubin Tendencies is described as "how people tend to respond to expectations: outer expectations (a work deadline, a “request” from a sweetheart) and inner expectations (write a novel in your free time, keep a New Year’s  resolution)". 

Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations 

Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense (my husband is a Questioner)

Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike

Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves (like my friend who said, “In high school, I never missed track practice, but I can’t go running on the weekends now”)

Me? Oh yeah, after checking out this video, I am definitely an OBLIGER. I respond to external expectations, I hate to disappoint other people, I don't like letting people down. 

I need motivation which is not innate in me, it has to be demanded from me or should come from someone else. 

A perfect example of confirming this tendency of mine is a recent talk with my obstetrician. I have been wanting to start on yoga, to gain weight, etcetera etcetera. I knew these things beforehand. I knew exactly what I need to do but I cannot just seem to start on it on my own. Now, hearing it form my OB the other day, I am more engaged on these action plans that I AM ACTUALLY doing something about it now. Crazy psyche, I am telling you!

So how is this related to my happy project? Why is this even important? I think knowing oneself is THE key to happiness. Since you would have an idea what your triggers or motivators are, you can craft your environment such as that it catalyzes you towards what you want to achieve or what can make you happy. 
 
Interested to know your Rubin Tendency? C'mon and click here.

Happy introspection! 

xx, 
Corporate Junkie

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