Finding Jordan Peterson was pivotal for my faith and purpose journey.
I binged HOURS and HOURS of his content and applied many of his ideas in my life.
Here are the top 10 lessons I learned from Dr. Peterson:
1. Responsibility is what gives life meaning
I spent a lot of time searching for meaning while avoiding responsibility.
This lesson taught me that instead of running from responsibilities, I should be running toward the right responsibilities for me.
2. You are far more complex than you think
Your conscious mind, AKA ego, is the smallest element of your total psyche.
It rises up out of the vast unconscious mind each morning and recedes at night. And the ego is at the mercy of the unconscious mind.
3. The word “sin” means “to miss the mark”
“Hamartia” is the Greek word for “sin” and translates to missing the mark.
It isn’t some moral proclamation to condemn bad people. It’s an archery metaphor! Sinning makes YOUR LIFE worse. No more guilt.
4. Fix your own life before you try to change the world
His rule to “clean your own room” swept the world.
Focus on fixing all your own problems before you try to critique and change society at-large.
Protest your own self-destructive behaviors.
5. Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
Many of us are great at giving advice to our loved ones, but our self-talk is polluted with self-loathing.
We would never speak to others how we speak to ourselves.
6. Tell the truth–or, at least, don’t lie
Life is downstream from our words.
When you tell the truth, you are properly oriented to the future. Lying points you away from your best possible future.
When the truth isn’t speakable, don’t speak.
7. Do not carelessly denigrate social institutions or creative achievement
The world is complex.
The institutions around us have many facets and long histories. To understand what they do and how they work takes a lot of effort.
Have some respect.
8. Do not hide unwanted things in the fog
Hidden things grow. C. G. Jung said, “what you want most to find will be found where you least want to look.”
Growth is making unconscious things conscious.
Decay is making conscious things unconscious.
9. Do not allow yourself to become resentful, deceitful, or arrogant
Resentment is the spirit of Cain, which should be our greatest personal enemy.
Focusing on “fairness” is not useful, since the world isn’t always a fair place.
There is always hope.
10. Imagine who you could be, and then aim single-mindedly at that
This is the true north for those seeking their unique purpose on Earth.
Imagine, then act. Learn what you are and what you are not. Then imagine again.
Then act again. Repeat.
