Ethics are what guide my daily life, and the decisions I make versus rules. I do what I feel is right, and what makes me feel good about myself. According to the rules, I am supposed to work five days per week, get up early on those days, and then rest on the weekend. Well, guess what? That schedule does not work for me, so I work when I feel like working. Ethically, producing quality work means more to me than following rules. Getting up early makes me physically sick, and when I am sick, I cannot produce quality work. Makes more sense for me to get the sleep I need, throw the getting up early rule out the window, and do what feels right (ethically) for me. 

Living by ethics versus rules helps me to take ownership of my life. If I live by rules that someone else creates, I am not allowing myself to reach my highest levels of self-actualization. Following rules is exhausting (to me) but living by my personal ethics feels natural. I do not have to work at living ethically, but I work and concentrate to follow rules. Frankly, I prefer doing what comes naturally and less stress is involved with that way of life. Thinking about what the Army is like makes me cringe. I would be kicked out after the first hour. 

How do you live your life? Are you a rule follower or do you live by your personal ethics? Put your comments in the box below and think about these questions: 

#1 Do you get aggravated when you are forced to follow a rule? 

#2 What guides your daily decision making? 

#3 Is conformity something you embrace or reject? 

#4 Were you socialized to believe in living life by rules or ethics?