In our last several +1s, we’ve been having fun (at least I have!) exploring some wisdom from Arnold Bennett’s old-school booklet on How to Live on 24 Hours a Day.
Today we’re going to conclude our tour.
We’re going to talk about the #1 “Danger to Avoid.”
Let’s get straight to work.
The #1 pro tip Bennett gives us as we set out on our quest for mastery and getting the most out of every day?
First and foremost, Arnold tells us we don’t want to become a “prig.”
Defined as “a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if superior to others.”
As he playfully puts it: “Now a prig is a pert fellow who gives himself airs of superior wisdom. A prig is a pompous fool who has gone out for a ceremonial walk, and without knowing it has lost an important part of his attire, namely, his sense of humor.”
😲 😆
The best prig protection?
Roz and Ben Zander give us a powerful anti-prig protocol in their great book The Art of Possibility where they tell us a little story.
It goes like this: “Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man bursts in, apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk. The resident prime minister admonishes him: ‘Peter,’ he says, ‘kindly remember Rule Number 6,’ whereupon Peter is instantly restored to complete calm, apologizes, and withdraws.”
They continue by saying: “The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interrupted yet again twenty minutes later by a hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying. Again the intruder is greeted with the words: ‘Marie, please remember Rule Number 6.’ Complete calm descends once more, and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology.”
And: “When the scene is repeated for the third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: ‘My dear friend, I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of Rule Number 6?’ ‘Very simple,’ replies the resident prime minister. ‘Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so g—damn seriously.’ ‘Ah,’ says his visitor, ‘that is a fine rule.’ After a moment of pondering, he inquires, ‘And what, may I ask, are the other rules?’ ‘There aren’t any.’”
😲 😆
And…
That’s Today’s +1.
As we strive to forge excellence and activate our Heroic potential and all that goodness…
Let’s not become self-righteous prigs.
😲 😆
Remember Rule #6.
And have fun out there Today, Hero. 🫡
Day 1.
All in.
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