Last week, I wrote about Bregman’s Humankind: A Hopeful History, if you want to review that piece, and why I think this book is important, you can just click here.

But, if you already read last week’s post, you probably just want to move on with his additional five Rules to Live By.  Here they are:

6 – Love your own as others love their own.  When we see others as different, as not like us, it is easier to misunderstand them.  It is easier to view them “from a distance”.  The author writes, “evil does its work from a distance.”  That when we distance ourselves from others, it is easier to rant at them over the internet, to stand back and let violence happen, to not feel compassion.  When we see someone as similar, maybe in just being human, it allow us to feel compassion.

7 – Avoid the news.  The is research folks, the news is bad for you.  It is designed to be bad for you.  It is designed to tap into your brain, to hijack it, and to make you come back again and again, each time with more negative emotion.  Stop it.  Stop watching the news.  Taking a break from social media wouldn’t hurt you either.

8 – Don’t punch Nazis.  That is honestly what the author wrote.  There is so much to this statement, a great story you should read in the book.  But what it boils down to is this: help those you think are wrong, honestly, kindly, maybe even lovingly.  Just because you think someone is wrong, and they might very well be, fighting with them, punching them, will not improve anything.

9 – Come out of the closet, don’t be ashamed to do good.  Research indicates “when people do something out of the goodness of their hearts, the often fabricate selfish motives.”  Don’t do that.  When you are nice, kind, or loving toward someone else, be honest about it, because that can be contagious.  You can pass on those good vibes.  The opposite is also true.  You can pass on negativity when you claim to have acted selfishly.  Be honest about being kind.

10 – Be realistic.  The author closes by stating, “It’s time for a new realism.  It’s time for a new view of humankind.”  That starts with each one of us, individually.  As his research points out, we live in a world “where people are deeply inclined to be good to one another.”  So go out and be kind. “Be courageous.  Be true to your nature and offer your trust.  Do good in broad daylight, and don’t be ashamed of your generosity.”

If you are interested in diving deeper into any of these topics and how to implement them in your life, I’m here to help.  Of course, I also recommend you take a look at the entire text.  These few words are barely a summary of the 400 pages of good, meaningful, positive research the author shares!  Take care.  – Dan