Principles
I do not have a religious belief, but I have decided to write down some personal principles.
1/Do not refrain from doing good deeds just because they are small, and do not commit evil deeds just because they seem insignificant
Not doing evil is the bottom line of life, and failing to do good within one's ability is also a kind of evil.
2/Life-long learning
Keep your curiosity alive. It's part of human nature to explore the unknown, and we shouldn't lose that. Learning should be motivated by the opportunity to gain knowledge, rather than just for the sake of practical benefits.
Keep producing output. Output is more important than input, as the knowledge we produce ourselves is truly mastered.
Be brave to expose your ignorance. It can be difficult to learn things you don't know, but there's no shame in it. Once you learn, it's all worth it.
3/Using books as the primary means of obtaining information
Throughout history, books have not been at the forefront of knowledge. It takes a long time for new knowledge to be born and then written into books. Therefore, the advantage of books is not in their speed of updating, but rather in the accumulation of information and its stability.
Don't consciously spend too much time on politics and news. In 1999, Time magazine named Albert Einstein as the person of the century, which was a perfect choice. The other two finalists for this honor were Roosevelt and Gandhi, both great figures, but from the perspective of the universe, the politics they represented were very short-lived, while physics and mathematics are eternal. The media relies on the public's anger to survive and deliberately stirs up emotions in their news reports. If something has a big enough impact, you will eventually find out about it, such as the COVID-19 virus, so there's no need to worry about missing out on important events.
Turn off personalized recommendations to avoid being trapped in an algorithmic filter bubble. Avoid using short video algorithm recommendation software like TikTok, as it can reduce attention span. Instead, use an RSS reader to subscribe to news and periodically filter information sources. The information on the internet is the latest, which means readers need to exercise restraint and rationality when reading. Sometimes, deliberately subscribing to information from two different perspectives or following the thoughts of women can help avoid a narrow, male-centric view of the world.
4/Embrace the power of the present moment
Plans don't need to be too far-reaching; just focus on doing every little thing well right now. Overthinking can be painful and can make people afraid to act.
5/Reduce desires
Recognizing that time is limited, pursuing unlimited desires within this constraint will inevitably lead to pain. Therefore, reducing desires and dedicating more time to pursuing inner growth is crucial.
Be cautious of things that provide instant gratification, such as electronics, alcohol, pornography, gambling, and drugs. Addiction to these things can seriously damage self-control and may be hard to recover from. If drinking alcohol, remember to drink in moderation, as excessive drinking can harm the body instead of providing relaxation and enjoyment.
6/Logical thinking and rational analysis
Approach problems through logical thinking instead of relying on habitual patterns of thought.
Don't complain, instead find solutions. Don't get angry, instead analyze.
7/Do what you can
Ordinary people may find it difficult to change the larger environment. Instead, they should focus on expanding their own sphere of influence by doing what they can and continually pushing their limits. It's like playing a game - start by mastering the beginner levels, aim for perfect scores, and then work hard to level up and tackle more challenging levels.
8/Take control of your finances
Avoid impulsive spending and wastefulness. What you waste is something that many poor people in the world dream of having.
Money isn't everything, but it does matter in modern society.Therefore, it's important to work hard to earn it, while also maintaining a work-life balance.
9/The bed is for sleeping only
A bed is for sleeping, not for playing on your phone. Once you're in bed, it's time for sleep, and electronic devices should be used elsewhere.
10/A healthy lifestyle
Reduce consumption of fried and greasy foods, as well as sugary and spicy foods like cola.
Get around 8 hours of sleep each day, make an effort to sleep well, and avoid staying up late.
Develop an exercise routine. A healthy body leads to better energy for getting things done.
11/ Politeness and Cleanliness
Keep things clean by frequently tidying and cleaning your living space, and taking regular showers.
Practice good manners by dressing appropriately when going out, speaking in a moderate tone during gatherings, avoiding getting too drunk, and not eating too quickly.
12/ Avoiding Unproductive Socializing
Focus on maintaining relationships with the people you love, and avoid wasting energy on those who are not relevant to your life.
13/Have the courage to be disliked
All of our problems come from our relationships with others. To be free, you must have the courage to be disliked. It doesn't matter if you are different from everyone else. Dare to say no and be unafraid of being disliked. If what you want to do does not affect others' interests, then go ahead and do it, even if it seems crazy.
14/Respect and Care for Others
Even if there is no benefit in doing so, we must learn to respect others. Disrespecting others is the greatest sin, as even the lowest person can have the highest wisdom.
Learning to listen and comfort those around us, and helping others is a way of shaping our own souls.
15/ This is the Most Important Principle
Even if I haven't achieved all of the principles mentioned above, I shouldn't blame myself for it. Meaninglessness is also a part of life.Because the world may be inherently illusory, just like Zhuangzi's dream of being a butterfly, where he didn't know if he was a man dreaming of being a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of being a man.