7 Simple rules to change our life

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Most people ignore these because they seem too obvious to matter.
But simple rules, followed consistently, unlock extraordinary results.

You don’t need complex strategies.

You need principles that actually stick—and these seven will.

1. Never Make Permanent Decisions Based on Temporary Emotions

Angry? Don't send that text. Sad? Don't quit your job. Excited? Don't spend all your money. Frustrated? Don't end the relationship.

Sleep on it. Emotions pass. Bad decisions stick.

Your emotional state is like weather—it changes constantly. What feels urgent and necessary at 11 PM rarely feels the same at 11 AM. The decision you want to make when you're furious is almost never the decision you'd make when you're calm.

This rule alone will save you from more regret than any other principle on this list. When emotions are high, your judgment is compromised. When judgment is compromised, you make choices you'll spend years trying to undo.

The practice: When you feel an intense urge to make a big decision, set a 24-hour rule. Write down exactly what you want to do and why. Then wait. If you still feel the same way tomorrow, consider it. Most of the time, you won't.

2. Treat Your Word Like Currency

If you say you'll do something, do it. If you can't commit, don't promise. If you make a mistake, own it.

Your reputation is built one promise at a time. People remember who they can count on.

In a world where people over-promise and under-deliver, being someone who does exactly what they say becomes a superpower. It's the foundation of trust, and trust is the foundation of every meaningful relationship and opportunity.

Most people are casual with their commitments. They say "yes" to everything, then deliver on half of it. They make promises they hope they can keep rather than promises they know they will keep.

Don't be most people.

Be the person who shows up when they say they will. Be the person who delivers what they promised. Be the person others can count on without question.

3. Invest in Yourself Before Investing in Anything Else

Books before stocks. Skills before cars. Health before wealth. Education before entertainment.

You are your greatest asset. Develop yourself first.

Every other investment depends on your ability to think clearly, work effectively, and adapt to change. If you don't invest in developing these capabilities, no other investment strategy matters.

The return on self-investment compounds differently than financial investments. A book that changes how you think pays dividends for decades. A skill that makes you more valuable creates opportunities you can't predict. Good health gives you the energy to pursue everything else.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't invest money. It means you should invest in your capacity to earn, learn, and grow before you worry about optimizing your portfolio.

4. Surround Yourself with People Who Challenge You to Grow

If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room. If everyone always agrees with you, your circle is too small. If no one pushes you, you'll stay comfortable and stagnant.

Growth requires friction.

Comfortable relationships feel good, but they don't make you better. You need people who see your potential and won't let you settle for less. You need people who ask hard questions, offer different perspectives, and challenge your assumptions.

This doesn't mean surrounding yourself with people who are critical or negative. It means choosing relationships with people who care enough about your growth to be honest about your blind spots.

Look for people who are:

• Further along in areas where you want to improve

• Willing to give honest feedback

• Committed to their own growth

• Supportive but not enabling

5. Master the Art of Saying No Without Explanation

"No" is a complete sentence. Your time is your life. Every yes to something is a no to something else.

Protect your energy like you protect your bank account.

Most people feel obligated to justify their boundaries, explain their priorities, or apologize for having limits. This turns every "no" into a negotiation and every boundary into a debate.

You don't owe anyone an explanation for how you choose to spend your time. You don't need to justify your priorities to people who aren't affected by them. You don't have to convince others that your boundaries are reasonable.

Practice saying:

• "That doesn't work for me."

• "I'm not available."

• "I can't commit to that."

No explanation. No apology. No negotiation.

6. Focus on What You Can Control, Ignore What You Can't

You can't control other people's opinions, market conditions, natural disasters, or the past.

You can control your effort, your attitude, your choices, and your response.

Energy spent on things you can't control is energy stolen from things you can.

This principle is simple to understand but difficult to practice. We naturally focus on things that frustrate us, and what frustrates us most is usually what we can't control.

Other people's behavior. Economic uncertainty. Political decisions. Random events.

The more you focus on these uncontrollable factors, the less energy you have for the factors you can actually influence.

When you catch yourself worrying about something, ask: "Can I directly influence this outcome?" If the answer is no, redirect your attention to something you can influence.

7. Build Systems, Not Just Goals

Goals tell you where to go. Systems get you there.

Don't just want to lose weight; build a system for healthy eating. Don't just want to save money; build a system for automatic saving. Don't just want success; build systems for daily progress.

Goals are destinations. Systems are vehicles.

Goals motivate you to start. Systems enable you to continue. Goals depend on willpower and motivation, which fluctuate. Systems depend on process and routine, which compound.

A good system makes progress inevitable rather than dependent on how you feel on any given day.

Instead of setting a goal to read 50 books this year, build a system of reading for 20 minutes every morning.

Instead of setting a goal to exercise three times a week, build a system of going to the gym immediately after work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The Implementation Rule

These rules work because they're simple enough to remember and powerful enough to matter.

The magic isn't in knowing them. It's in following them consistently.

Don't try to implement all seven at once. Pick one rule and commit to it for the next 30 days. Focus on that single principle until it becomes automatic.

Then add the next one.

Small, consistent changes create dramatic results over time.

Until next time,

Raihan | Mindful Maven