Tony Robbins -Re-Awaken_the_Giant_Within

ule for procrastination is based on her realization that expecting perfection created pain, and she hadn’t
wanted to begin projects that would create pain, so that’s why she’d been procrastinating. These changes
in values and rules have redirected her life to a level beyond anything she could have imagined.
Now, here’s an assignment for you: based on the new values you’ve set up for yourself in the last chapter,
create a set of rules for your moving-toward values that makes it easy to feel good, and a set of rules for
your moving-away-from values that makes it hard to feel bad. Ideally, create a menu of possibilities with
lots of ways to feel good. Here are a few of mine:
A SAMPLING OF MY MOVING-TOWARD VALUES AND RULES
Health and Vitality: Anytime I feel centered, powerful, or balanced; anytime I do anything that increases
my strength, flexibility, or endurance; anytime I do anything that moves me toward a sense of physical
well-being; anytime I eat water-rich foods or live in accordance with my own health philosophy.
Love and Warmth: Anytime I’m being warm and supportive of my friends, family, or strangers; anytime I
focus on how to help; anytime I’m loving toward myself; anytime my state of being enhances how other
people feel.
Learning and Growing: Anytime I make a new distinction that’s useful; anytime I stretch myself beyond
what was comfortable; anytime I think of a new possibility; anytime I expand or become more effective;
anytime I apply anything I know in a positive way.
Achieving: Anytime I focus on the value of my life as already created; anytime I set an outcome and
make it happen; anytime I learn anything or create value for myself or others.
You may say, “Isn’t this just a game? Couldn’t I set it up so that I meet my rule for health just by
breathing?” Certainly you could base it on something this simple. Ideally, though, you’ll design your
rules so that by pursuing them you have more of what you want in your life. You also may say, “Won’t I
lose my drive to succeed if there’s no pain motivation?” Trust me. Life will give you enough pain on your
own if you don’t follow through. You don’t need to add to it by creating an intense set of rules that makes
you feel lousy all the time.
In sociology there’s a concept known as “ethnocentricity,” which means we begin to believe that the
rules, values, and beliefs of our culture are the only ones that are valid. This is an extremely limiting
mindset. Every person around you has different rules and values than you do, and theirs are no better
or worse than your own. The key question is not whether rules are right or wrong, but whether they
empower or disempower you. In fact:
EVERY UPSET IS A RULES UPSET
Think about the last time you were upset with someone. Was it really about them, or was it about
something they did, or said, or failed to do that you thought they ought to? Were you angry with them,
©2013 Robbins Research International. www.tonyrobbins.com 69