Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

~ Helen Keller

We are not given a manual on how to be human. Instead, we learn what is right and wrong based on social and cultural norms, doing our best to decipher how it applies to the world around us. Some have had great parenting or role models, and others have not. Many were raised with specific doctrines, while others were without any at all. One approach does not carry more merit than the other. Moreover, as varied as many dogmas appear, a common thread runs through them: how to be a good human being.

I have gathered a list from various sources that speak to me of truth. Where the origin is known, it has been noted.

Rules for Being Human: handed down from ancient Sanskrit

  • You will receive a body.
  • You will learn lessons.
  • There are no mistakes, only lessons.
  • A lesson reappears until it is learned.
  • Learning lessons does not end.
  • “There” is no better than “Here.”
  • Others are merely mirrors of you.
  • What you make of your life is up to you.
  • Your answers lie inside you.
  • You will forget all of this.
  • You can remember it whenever you want.
5 Buddhist Precepts for Life.
  • Refrain from taking life.
  • Refrain from taking what is not given.
  • Refrain from the misuse of senses.
  • Refrain from the wrong speech.
  • Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.

The Four Agreements By Don Miguel Ruiz

  • Agreement 1: Be Impeccable With Your Word
  • Agreement 2: Don’t Take Anything Personally
  • Agreement 3: Don’t Make Assumptions
  • Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best

 Spiritual Truths For Life

  • Love is why we’re here.
  • We are spiritual beings on a human journey.
  • Our soul knows the way to fulfill our destiny.
  • Everything is energy.
  • We have direct access to our knowingness at all times.
  •  Healing comes from within you.
  • What you are seeking is seeking you.
  • Time is an illusion.
  • We are never alone.
  • The unlived life is the most significant loss.
  • We are not responsible for convincing others of our truth.
  • Be open to greatness.
  • Learn what you are here to learn.
  • Be present for yourself and others.
  • Bring passion to all that you do.
  • Give love abundantly.
  • Revere life.
  • Embrace connection.
  • Be Kind.
  • Be Grateful.
The Laws of the Universe and Truths You Can’t Ignore
  • The law of cause and effect underlies the workings of all phenomena.
  • You are the only one that loses when you judge another.
  • The future can change, often by our own doing.
  • Relationships are complicated or simple; you choose.
  • Your job does not define your life. Nor do the perceived successes or failures of your family.
  • We are not an island. Our career, well-being, and often our life may depend upon others.
  • Our thoughts, judgments, decisions, or opinions can change.
  • Worry only saps our energy.
  • Compassion is a component of authentic connection.
  • The only things we can be sure of are death and taxes.
  • The more you love, the more love you will have.
  • Be the light in the room, and your path will always be bright.
  • We can make life easy or hard; the choice is ours.
  • No one will ever come to save you.
  • Making a wrong decision is better than making no decision.
  • Consistency is better than intensity.
  • The grass isn’t greener on the other side.
  • You only get stronger by doing hard things.
  • There are no mistakes, only lessons.
  • You cannot succeed if you don’t start.
 Wisdom from Horseman Tom Dorrance 
  •  Take the time that it takes, and it takes less time.
  • Be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary.
  • The horse is a reflection of the rider’s ability.
  • You need to do less sooner; you’re always doing a little too much, a little too late.
  • To find balance on a horse, one must first find balance within.
  • It’s not about making the horse learn but letting him learn.
  • The horse knows when you know and knows when you don’t know.
  • Horses teach you a lot; very little of it has to do with horsemanship.
  • Approach every horse with an open heart and an open mind.
  • The best tool in working with a horse is understanding.
  • Your horse can only be as relaxed as you are.
  • The truest communication with a horse is often silent.
  • The best lessons are those the horse gives us.

Life’s truths will always find us if we stay welcoming, eager, and willing. They show themselves in various forms, sometimes in small ways, giving us a momentary glimpse. But fret not, for in the words of  Siddhartha, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Stay open to learning. Hold kindness in your heart and spread love everywhere you go. It is genuinely a way we change the world.

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.

~Galileo Galilei