I’m sorry, but Moses’s 10 commandments are a bit outdated. Sure, a few of them still ring true today, but the majority of them are either no longer applicable or not quite accurate.
Generation-Y is the least religious generation the world has ever seen — and thank goodness for that. Our generation needs a new list of commandments to live by, one that will guide it towards prosperity, happiness and love.
I’m by no means a Moses or more qualified than anyone else to lay down the law, but I think you’ll find these useful:
1. Thou Shalt Focus On Thyself And Improve Thyself Each And Every Day.
The only way to make yourself happy and to make the world a better place is by improving yourself. How much better do you believe we would all be if each and every single one of us would only focus on bettering ourselves and our own lives before attempting to better the lives of others?
The truth is that most of the hatred and killing in the world is a result of one person or small group of people trying to make the lives of the masses better. Before you fix the world, fix yourself. Find your flaws and weaknesses and improve on them. Become smarter. Become healthier. Become happier and then share your knowledge and experience with others.
2. Thou Shalt Respect All Those That Respect You.
One must always respect another’s body and mind. However, there are those that will choose to disrespect you. Do not respect those that are not willing to show you the same courtesy; if you do, then they will never learn. Respect everyone until they disrespect you. Once they disrespect you, cut them out of your life either until they apologize or indefinitely.
3. Thou Shalt Give Back To Humanity.
Each one of us is connected to each other in some way or another. Most of us share some sort of bloodline and, in a sense, are family. We are all part of something larger than ourselves and must stick together and love each other in order to survive as a species in the long run.
As you progress as a person, you are obligated to share your prosperity and fortune with others. Share the love and care. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be given the opportunities you were given. Show them that there are those that may have never met them, but care about them nonetheless.
4. Thou Shalt Pursue Happiness.
Happiness is the only thing worth pursuing and — I strongly believe — the only thing that any person in any state of mind or mental condition is pursuing. However, before you can pursue it you have to understand exactly what it is that will bring you happiness. If you are confused as to what will make you happy then you will never be happy. Happiness is something that any person, no matter their status or condition, can achieve. Keep that in mind while on your journey.
5. Thou Shalt Honor Thy Parents.
Not all of us have loving parents. But we all have a person, people or institution that helped us to survive. Whatever or whomever kept you fed and housed, that helped groom you into the person that you are today, deserves to be honored to some extent. Of course, not everyone is to be honored equally.
Only you yourself understand how much others played in the happiness that you experienced growing up and only you know the level of honor and respect that they deserve. Good parents or bad, if it weren’t for them, then you wouldn’t exist.
6. Thou Shalt Not Condone Violence.
Don’t resort to violence if you can use your words. It’s better to outsmart than to pummel. Better to outwit than to strike. Usually, the more violent the person, the less in touch they are with themselves and reality.
Violence is only acceptable as self-defense, never as an offensive. Those that use violence in order to bring about peace are delusional — we call them terrorists.
7. Thou Shalt Not Be Lazy.
We Heart It
The commandment that most Gen-Yers choose to ignore. Laziness is what is holding down the human race. Laziness is what is minimizing progress and maximizing inefficiency. Before you can make any changes, you have to forget the concept of laziness. Actions are the only things that ever cause reactions. Without reactions, we have no change and therefore no progress. Being lazy is the gravest of sins.
8. Thou Shalt Put Logic And Reason Ahead Of All Else.
Too many of us think and act based on the emotions that we experience. Emotions are chemical reactions that make you feel a certain way. No matter how you feel about a situation, the logical response will always be the same.
Don’t assume, guess or ‘go with the flow.’ Look at every situation objectively and use your logic and reason to overcome difficulties. This is the only way to come to the best possible solution or course of further action. It is the only way to guarantee that you have the highest likelihood of success.
9. Thou Shalt Find Thy Passion.
Without passion, life is not more than a chore. We all need to find something that moves us, something that makes life more pleasurable and more purposeful. We all have some sort of calling or something that we believe in and believe we can improve on.
Finding a passion involves not much more than finding something that you are good at, something that you enjoy and something that will make a positive difference in the lives of others. Passion must be directed outwards from you towards the rest of the people sharing this world.
10. Thou Shalt Not Covet Your Friend’s Lover.
Bros before hoes and chicks before dicks. Love ties make things complicated and intensify emotions. Having your heart broken can make you do stupid things and if the person that orchestrated the heartbreak was your close friend then you may very well lose your trust in others. Never sleep with or fall for the person your friend is dating.
There are plenty of other fish in the sea and there is no reason you should wreck your friend’s relationship just so that you can benefit. After they break up, however, you can decide whether or not this newfound love of yours is worth risking the friendship that you have. In a sense, a lover is worth more than just a friend — but most lovers won’t be around for as long. Choose wisely.
