RULE 1

Before getting into the specifics of Peterson's first rule in his book,12 Rules to Life, let me share this brief story.

My son has an open door policy at his home. Yesterday, Terry and I visited him and his family in Stoney Creek at the same time his local parish priest dropped by. As it turns out, Father Marco likes to chill out at Derek's every Monday on his day off.

Somehow the name of Jordan Peterson came up and Father Marco shared that he's a big fan of the man he called a modern day Christian apologetic. He went on to explain how Peterson has a reputation for spirited debates with atheists about the existence of God. 

Over the past 18 months or so, Peterson has been undergoing a few personal challenges however his trials in no way detract from his book that was written in 2018.

As I embark on this discussion of Peterson's rules, know that I am simply jotting down a few reflections on his ideas and in no way am I trying to render a definitive or exhaustive review of his book. That would be foolish and certainly far beyond my pay grade. 

OK, let's get started.

Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back.

Seems like a strange place to begin a book about meaningful living. In fact, it reminds of something my high school phys ed teacher, Mr. Prendergast, used to say. Peterson uses this dictate as a jumping off point for a discussion of many concepts including the principle of evolution, dominance hierarchies and the neurochemistry of lobsters. At the heart of his first rule is the author's belief that we all want to be judged and that we instinctively rate ourselves against others, often harshly. 

According to Peterson, raising your shoulders and lifting your head helps with positive self image because standing upright induces a chemical change in the body that in turn encourages us to "voluntarily accept the burden of life....and willingly undertake the sacrifices necessary to generate a productive and meaningful reality."

Heady stuff but I think his message is a challenge to all of us to work at taking the high road in our personal lives. Standing tall can help with that.  

Good posture! I know Mr. Prendergast would approve.