Life Repurposed

Life Repurposed


Creating a Rule of Life: Could this framework help you focus?

January 24, 2020

In this episode:

I have been thinking about writing a Rule of Life in place of annual goal setting (or as a companion to it), and I was first introduced to it in a book by Peter Scazzero. He explains that a Rule of Life is like a trellis on which we train a vine to grow. Having a framework in place helps us to direct how we grow and ultimately helps us flourish.

Inspired Life: What is a Rule of Life?
I don’t love rules. And yet I can’t help but follow them. So when I heard of a Rule of Life when I was reading a book, I was a bit skeptical of this thing that sounded legalistic. But it isn’t. In this podcast episode, I took a closer look at what it is.
A Rule of Life is an alternative to setting goals (or a companion to it). It stems from a tradition of religious orders who had guidelines for how they lived in community—think monks. We can use their example and write our own code of conduct that guides our decisions.
Daniel had his own code of conduct—Rule of Life—in the Bible, he just didn’t call it that. See Daniel 1 and Daniel 6 for how his practices of prayer and time with God as well as a specific way of eating were included in his non-negotiables, even when his life depended on it. Seriously, he was willing to be thrown in a den of lions rather than break his code.
I have been thinking about writing a Rule of Life in place of annual goal setting, and I was first introduced to it in a book by Peter Scazzero, called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature (affiliate link). He explains that a Rule of Life is like a trellis on which we train a vine to grow. Having a framework in place helps us to direct how we grow and ultimately helps us flourish.
We’re all different in how we will live, but Scazzero says this in his book:
Our goal is the same: union with God in Christ, transformation into his image, and the freeing of our hearts from anything that stands in the way of Christ living in and through us. How we get there will vary, depending on our personality, gift mix, temperament, geographic location, and particular calling from God. In addition, God will have different practices and emphases at different seasons and phases of our lives. (p 193)
A Rule of Life is “an intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the center of everything we do. . . . The starting point and foundation of any Rule is a desire to be with God and to love him” (Scazzero, 196).
This is freeing in that it carries from year to year and provides a framework for any goal we set or any commitment we consider making for our time, energy, money, etc. We can filer all of our decisions through our “Rule.”
So, I did some additional research to find more resources that would help me write my own. Then I saw it come up in a post from the Gospel Coalition, so it was on my mind again. See the article
Peter Scazzero includes these areas when creating a Rule of Life. These are some examples he gives in a worksheet about writing a rule (link below):
PRAYER

Scripture - meditating on Scripture each day, a reading plan, praying the Psalms, etc.
Silence and Solitude – this includes daily silence as well as a possible silent retreat.
Daily Prayer – the plan might include prayers planned at times throughout the day.
Study – you may want to take a Bible course, read Christian books, or use a Bible study resource for daily study.

REST

Sabbath –setting apart a 24-hour Sabbath time.
Simplicity – this could include uncluttering, clearing time, changing finances, etc.
Play and Recreation – this includes finding activities that breathe life in you.

WORK/ACTIVITY

Service and Mission – this includes using your time, or talents to serve others.
Care for the Physical Body – this includes sleep, exercise, and diet.

RELATIONSHIPS

Emotional Health – journaling, counseling, group connections are all included here
Family – this includes growth to be a better spouse, parent, child, sibling.