The subject of rules has been on my mind lately, as I explore my relationship with the conduct of others. In my work I see that many people live by their own rules, refusing to adhere to those created by others. What I have noticed in myself is an energy around enforcement and my reaction to those who break rules. For example, when I see someone drive up at the gym, get out of their vehicle, and run through the doors to begin their workout after parking in the handicap space, I feel a call to action (tee tee).
I have noticed that I am one of those people who aims to follow all the rules. When I explore my reaction to the rule-breakers, I come to the conclusion that it must be a past-life thing. Perhaps I was a policeman or lived in a tribal community that strictly enforced their rules. Maybe I was punished for not following a rule. Who knows? What if we lived in a society that had no rules; what would happen then? That would be anarchy, which is a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority. That would be another whisper (lol).
Rules are a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere. I’m guessing that I need healing from the past so that I can adjust my behavior to not react when someone at Barton Springs smokes their cigarettes, sending me running to tell the lifeguard (oooops). Let’s get a whisper on the subject of rules:
For so many people to coexist without chaos, there must be rules. Defying an authority figure is not uncommon, either. Like every other aspect of life, one must find the balance through the discernment that comes with discipline. It takes discipline to stand in line, to allow people the freedom of making poor choices, to look the other way, or to stand up for what is right.
The response that comes from within to a violation of the rules could be more related to justice than to rules. Is it wrong to seek justice in the world today, and is justice connected to righteousness? Justice is definitely connected to perceptions around right and wrong. It might not be a good choice to fight a battle over a parking place, but it might be your place to stop someone from being bullied or abused. Destiny will always place you in a position of making these types of choices based on what is right and wrong for every experience, specific to maintaining your ideals and standards.
There is a lot of contempt and anger in the world, so discernment and discipline are necessary to survival. This is where enlightenment comes in, for true justice is enforced in the domain of divine providence. That means spiritual advancement in the area of personal development leads to the illumination of truth. Truth will always return the heart to love, tolerance, and acceptance. Anytime one is facing a decision around enforcing rules to find justice, that’s the signal to go inside the heart to find the power of discernment. The opportunity that presents itself in the face of a violation of the rules is your chance to evolve into a better person.
You don’t have to lower your standards in order to know that justice will always be served. That conscious knowing will help in finding balance and to calm the spirit when others violate a rule. Loving yourself first is the basis of evolving to a place of finding the power to discern your position in the world and your duty with another person being held to justice.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“Rules and responsibilities: these are the ties that bind us. We do what we do, because of who we are. If we did otherwise, we would not be ourselves. I will do what I have to do. And I will do what I must.” Neil Gaiman
