In 1995 Studio Ghibli, a Japanese anime company, released a movie called "Whispers of the Heart." It is about two high school students struggling with their artistic passions, their feelings for each other, and coming of age.
About a decade ago, someone synthesized the 7 movie rules and posted them online. The original source has since disappeared, but this list has been on the web ever since.
They are simple rules, but they come very close to timeless and universally valid principles. So, whoever you are and wherever you live: thank you for what you have written and spread.
Thank you for giving us… The 7 cardinal rules of life.
1. Make peace with your past so it doesn't interfere with your present.
We all keep old versions of ourselves locked somewhere in a closet, and every time we open it, we feel pain and suffering. We can't change the people we once were, but we can make peace with them. Open the closet and let in some light. Reconcile with yourself, otherwise your past will forever be an obstacle for you.
Life is nothing more than a series of fleeting moments that follow each other relentlessly. The only place where you can live, act and make a difference is the present. This day.
2. Time heals all, so give it time.
Sometimes you can't find the strength to go further now. Sometimes you want to kick yourself because you can't forget and move on. But this is normal, it is part of life. What you can do is simply let time flow and ease your wounds.
I know you just want to fix everything and move on, but if you don't heal a wound right, it's going to get worse down the road. So take your time. Take care of yourself, your health, your broken heart and your broken parts.
Sometimes even what heals properly leaves a scar. These scars will be with us forever and the best we can do is let them slowly fade over time.
3. What others think of you is none of your business.
Most of our scars come from wounds inflicted by other people. Words can hurt us more than weapons. But you are not interested in finding out what arrows people have inside their heads to shoot. Most of them will never hurt you.
4. Do not compare your life with that of others and do not judge them.
Instead of verbally hurting others, most people decide to play (and lose) another imaginary game: "Who's the best?" It is a controversial question that is not easy to answer. We have no idea what the story of who we have in front of us is, at least until the moment we met him.
Mark Twain said, "Comparison is the death of joy." Worse yet, it is also the birth of misery. The less you compare, the greater your ability to empathize. Put yourself in the place of others: you will doubt yourself less and you will also be less prone to jealousy, which only leads to fear, anger, hatred and suffering.
5. Stop thinking so much, it's normal not to have all the answers.
If you shouldn't think about others, or what they think, what should you think about? About yourself? In fact, it's okay not to think too much in general. Answers often come when you least expect them.
Make your choices. Decide on a path. Be determined. Dedicate yourself. But once you have chosen, let the doubts slip away. It will become clear when it is time to take a crossroads and change direction.
6. Nobody is responsible for your happiness, except you
In the end, what you want most is something that only you can give yourself. You already have everything you need. Inside you. Feel the heart beating. Point to the chest. That is where happiness lies.
We spend our time looking for something that we cannot see simply because it is not there. The outside world is wonderful or not depending on how you behave and how you think. Are you working hard to make your life experiences magnificent? Do you fully appreciate the beauty that happens to you?
If you are not doing it, then it is not the fuel that you lack, but the desire to invigorate that fire that now glows faintly in the depths of your soul. Make up your mind to take care of that llama. Protect it. Make sure that its light does not go out and make it shine so that everyone can see it.
7. Smile, because all the problems in the world are not yours
Do you know Moebius Syndrome? It is a rare genetic disease that causes paralysis of the facial muscles. There are about 300 known cases worldwide. These people are physically unable to smile.
So, if on the one hand there are those who cannot smile even if they wanted to, on the other we are the ones who often go around choosing not to make this simple -and often automatic- gesture. A gesture that could lift the day of the people we meet on our way.
Whatever problem plagues your daily life, it's most likely not that big of a deal when you're faced with the grand scheme of things. Each of us has our difficulties, but as long as you are able to smile, do it. You never know who you can infect.
The real purpose of these rules
Learning to live is a continuous process. There will always be some rules to update, some principles to better understand, some new ideas to add to old truths.
Who we are in this world is not decided once and for all. We choose it every day: with every action we take, with every principle we choose to value, and with every rule we choose to follow. This is the true purpose of the rules: to serve us in our eternal search for a better version of ourselves.
We don't know how long the movie rules will keep you on this quest that will never come to an end. But as one of the characters in the film said:
"You are wonderful. You don't have to rush, take your time."
They may be interested in:
- 12 rules for life. An Antidote to Chaos - Summary
- Simplify your life with these 5 timeless principles
- Quotes about the Values ​​of Life: the 50 most significant phrases
- The subtle art of doing what pisses you off - 3 valuable tips for life
- The game is not worth it: 20 things to avoid in life
- 25 tips to be happy all your life
