16 Guidelines

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. (Johann Wolfgang Goethe)

Excerpts from the 16 Guidelines for Life: How to find happiness and meaning by Alison Murdoch and Dekyi-Lee Oldershaw)

The Guidelines are a contemporary presentation of ancient wisdom. These deceptively simple words appear consistently in the spiritual, religious and philosophical traditions of the world, event if they aren't always put into practice. If we can learn to apply them to real-life situations, again and again they demonstrate their extraordinary capacity to transform our relationships, help us make wise decisions, and bring us peace of mind even in the the most difficult of circumstances.

The Four Wisdom Themes and Guidelines:

How We Think: Everything we say and do arises from our thoughts. Humility, Patience, Contentment, Delight
How We Act: Every skillful action makes a better world. Kindness, Honesty, Generosity, Right Speech
How We Relate to Others: Every time we cherish others we are cherishing ourselves. Respect, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Loyalty
How We Find Meaning: If everything is changing, anything is possible. Aspiration, Principles, Service, Courage