I’ve been struggling with the rules: i have three simple rules that i use to guide my writing and work. I’ve written about these before, and they have served me well.
[1] To be Positive
[2] To be Constructive
[3] To be Responsive
To be Positive is to look for the best in situations, and in my outlook. It’s easy, and often comforting, to stand in opposition, or to share negativity, but it’s not constructive, and, to be honest, it can dig you into a hole. For some people, it works well, but for me it is not healthy.
To be Constructive links to this: so i can be negative if i offer a constructive input, an idea. So not simply criticism, but criticism with ideas.
To be Responsive means to reply to every comment or email, whatever it says, because if people can be bothered to share their thoughts, i should be bothered to read, engage, and listen.
The first and third have felt harder or me recently, and i am unsure why. Sometimes it’s felt harder to be positive in every case, and sometimes i’ve struggled to remain responsive, through emotional exhaustion or simply being overwhelmed as the community continues to grow.
Still: rules are rules, so i am refocussing myself upon these.
Use your sixty seconds today to think what your rules are, and whether they are always easy to stick to.