Another guideline I live by is being compassionate， which goes hand in hand with being receptive. Being compassionate includes being kind to others， showing love and affection， treating others with respect， and just being honest. All these factors can make or break any relationship， whether it be among friends， parents and children， lovers， or husband and wife. Leaving out just one of these guidelines could wreak havoc on the best of relationships. Getting upset or saying something hurtful will not ruin the relationship， but if a relationship becomes a constant apology session it is destined to fail. If I follow the Golden Rule， "Treat others as you would want them to treat you." I should not have a problem being compassionate.
The final rule I live by is the pursuit of excellence. Pursuing excellence is a difficult task. Each day I have to find the courage to face the many challenges the day will bring. "Courage is not defined by those who fought and fell， but by those who fought， fell， and rose again." I believe in being responsible for every decision and action that I make along the path to success. Sometimes I make mistakes and bad decisions， but I am able to overcome them by striving to do better the next day. Some people have to learn from their own mistakes while others learn from the mistakes of others. The most important factor in the pursuit of excellence is perseverance. "When the going gets tough， the tough get going." When my world is coming unwound， I give everything a little extra effort. "Never let your head or your heart drop for that is when hope is lost."
Throughout my life I have had to make many decisions， some with the help of others and some completely on my own. My decisions probably would not have been the same if I did not have guidelines to live by. When I make a decision I do not base it on what others will think of me. I make my decision based on whether or not it will conform to my laws of life. Having a set of rules to live by is a great tool for success. However if you find yourself following guidelines and consequently feeling miserable and dissatisfied， then take a look inside yourself. You may find you are following someone else' s laws of life. After all， it' s your life； you should be following your own.