Some time back, I did an exercise from Gretchen Rubin’s blog where I wrote my personal commandments. It was pretty eye opening to sit down and really think about what mattered to me. Of course, part of me already knows what is important, even when it is unspoken. I found it so revealing to type it out and put words behind it, though. I tried to collect quotes or sayings that have meaning for me and attached them to each so I will not be able to forget the meaning. Here’s what I came up with:

1. Be True to Yourself
“This above all: to thine own self be true.” –Shakespeare

2. Love with an Open Heart
“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” –Kahlil Gibran

3. Never Stop the Pursuit of Your Dreams
“When you are on a journey to fulfill your personal legend, the whole universe conspires to help you achieve it.” –Paulo Coelho;
or from Mey’s email signature, “It is never too late to be the person you could have been.” –George Eliot/Dinah Maria (Mulock) Craik

4. Know Your Worth
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” –Shakespeare;
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson
Or my very basic explanation: You are the most important person to consider in every decision you make.

5. Honor Your Intuition
“Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.” –-Michael Burke

6. Be Nice and Treat People Right
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

7. “Yes, and”
Make every day courageous and adventurous because this is your only chance. Live Each Day As If Its Your Last.

8. Be Content and Present in the Moment
These are the good old days.

9. Know when to say “No”
Cut your losses before it’s too late.

10. Let go of Regrets and Grudges
Life is short.

Have you chosen your personal commandments? What are they? Please consider sharing!