12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Summary

12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Summary

’12 Rules for Life’ is a book written by Jordan Peterson. In this book, he talks about 12 rules that if followed will make our lives better. The book is about 370 pages long. Everyone doesn’t have the time or patience to read a full-length book. Hence I am writing this summary so that people get to understand the core meaning of the book in a matter of minutes. But if you are a person who loves reading, I recommend you to buy this book. It is worth it. Let’s get down to the rules.

‘Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back’

This rule applies to us in two ways. One is the way we present ourselves. If you dress poorly and slouch, everyone will label you as a lazy person. But if you clean up and have a proper posture, other people’s behaviour toward you will be positive. Consequently, everyone will look upon you as a person with higher status.

The second way the rule applies is to your behaviour. You must have the courage to speak your minds especially when there are forces of tyranny at play. You must at least have the same freedom and opportunities as others. Life is full of challenges. However, there are some challenges that If you take up, will make your lives better in the long run. Be bold enough to take on such responsibilities.

‘Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping’

Most of us don’t take proper care of ourselves. However, if we have a child we have to take care of, we would go to all lengths to take proper care of that child. We are so altruistic that way. It’s good that we have the kindness of heart to care for others. Nevertheless, we must also take proper care of our physical and mental health. We all have responsibilities to attend to, and great contributions to make. If you don’t take care of yourselves, you won’t be able to full fill your destiny.

‘Rules 3: Make Friends with People Who Want the Best For You’

‘People choose bad friends because they want to rescue someone.’ But most often people don’t want to be rescued. Harsh as it may sound Jordan Peterson insists that some people choose to remain a victim because they don’t want to do the hard work to succeed in life. It is better that you avoid such people in your life.

‘Friendship is a reciprocal arrangement.’ You should choose friends who want the best for you. If you surround yourself with people who want the best for you, they will not tolerate your cynicism or destructiveness.

‘Rule 4: Compare Yourself to Who You Were Yesterday, Not Who Someone Else is Today’

The advent of the Internet has made our world a global village. Thirty years ago we didn’t have social media to compare ourselves with millions of netizens. But now most of our time is spent on Facebook, Youtube or Instagram, going through the posts of our college or school friends. When you see the posts on Instagram, you will feel that everyone is having a great time, except you. That is a depressing fact about social media.

The solution to all these problems is that you shouldn’t compare yourself with others. Just compare yourself with who you were yesterday. Analyse your daily routine. Find out what you need to improve to make your life better. Take necessary action. You don’t have to win all the games life throws at you. Nevertheless, there will be some games that will suit your skill and talent-make use of that.

‘Rule 5: Do Not Let Your Children Do Anything that Makes You Dislike Them’

‘A child may have many friends but only two parents.’ ‘Parents should be the arbiters of society’. It is the parent’s duty to shape their child into responsible participants in society. Lack of incisive attention can damage children. Hence parents are duty-bound to nurture and care for their children with patience.

‘Rule 6: Set Your House in Perfect Order Before You Criticize the World’

You have to take responsibility for your own life. ‘Have you taken full advantage of your opportunities? Are you working hard on your career? ‘If your answer is no, here is something to try: start to stop doing what you know to be wrong. If you are not doing your job properly, it is time to take a U-turn. You must find out what you are doing wrong in your life and correct it -one at a time is enough to start with.

‘Rule 7: Pursue What is Meaningful (Not What is Expedient)’

‘Sacrifice can hold pain and suffering in abeyance.’ As a student, you sacrifice your time for studying and as a result, you end up with proper education. As an employee, you work on the most productive projects and hence gain promotions. Education, career, and family relations are meaningful in your life. Therefore, pursuing them is worthwhile.

‘Rule 8: Tell the Truth, or at least Don’t Lie’

‘If you betray yourself, if you say untrue things, if you act out a lie, you weaken your character.’ So Jordan Person strongly advocates to say the truth or at least don’t lie. One small lie will lead to another and another and will lead to your ruin.

‘Someone power-hungry makes a new rule at your workplace. It is unnecessary. It’s counterproductive. It is an irritant.’ If you remain silent and ignore the tyranny, it will expand to consume you and your workplace making it into hell. In such situations, saying everything is fine is a lie. You must speak the truth. You may have to find a new job even. Nevertheless, you must speak the truth. You may be far better in a different workplace than in one where you have to live a lie.

‘Rule 9: Assume that the Person You Are Listening to Might Know Something You Don’t’

If you are reading this blog, there is a strong probability that you are a privileged person. You have a mobile device, an internet connection and time to read. A little gratitude might be in order.

Listening is an underrated skill in our society. ‘We are afraid to listen because words might change our opinion.’ When you patiently listen to the person in front of you, your ideologies may crumble and that’s hurtful for your ego. But it is beneficial in the long run. With the light of knowledge and realization, you can emerge from the ashes like a phoenix.

‘Rule 10: Be Precise in Your Speech’

Whether at the workplace or at the household, you will encounter minute disagreements and resentment. If you don’t address it early on, the resentment will pile up and will emerge as a dragon ready to pounce at us when we are in the most vulnerable situation. You must not hide the baby dragon under the carpet. You must articulate precisely the issue that needs to be addressed. Being able to communicate opinions is a skill which can only be sharpened by using it. So speak out, articulate your mind and be precise about it.

‘Rule 11: Do Not Bother Children when they are Skateboarding’

‘It’s competence that makes a person as safe as they can truly be.’ ‘Overprotected, you will fail when something dangerous makes its appearance as it inevitably will.’ You can’t bubble wrap everyone you care about and keep them in the attic to keep them safe. That is an absurd notion. The right thing to do would be to make them competent to face the challenges of the world.

‘Rule 12: Pet a Cat When You Encounter One on the Street’

This is the final rule by Jordan Peterson. Here he says that you must learn the enjoy the little things in life. If you pay attention, even on a bad day, you may be fortunate enough to be confronted with small opportunities for happiness. Maybe you will encounter a cat you like to pet in the street, then go ahead and pet it. Learn to love the little things in life

These are the 12 Rules that Jordan Peterson recommends you follow. If you have reached this far, you are an amazing person-who care about reading and improving your life. Hats off. A little gratitude is in order- as Jordan Peterson would say. If you loved this article you would love Jordan Peterson’s book even more. I highly recommend you to read his book. It is life-changing.