Introduction.

At the end of 12 rules for life there is a CODA section. I certainly didn’t know what coda meant but after a quick google search I found out that it means: “the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure.” For what it seems is like a combination between a summary and a conclusion.

In this section Jordan Peterson talks about a pen of light, a simple technological gadget that has a profound metaphysical meaning; the pen that can write even in the darkness. He then continues to ask himself multiple questions about what he should write with his new pen of light, receiving the response of “Write down the words you want inscribed on your soul.”

I asked myself the same question. I got longer and distinct answers to that of Peterson, nonetheless I think that is a good thing because that shows that even in my deep respect and admiration of the aforementioned I still respect my nature and my ideas.

This post is mostly for me to revisit from time to time. To see what things had changed and what stayed the same. I truly encourage you to do the same questions to yourself and even make them public, just remember that the true magic of this experiment is that the questions are a conversation between two different people: you.

The answers to these questions should be in some way mysterious to you. They arise from the unknown terrain of your imagination. Ask with genuine interest and listen carefully to the answer. Your answers also should be relatively idiosyncratic to you so do not try to force them to align with some external ideology or expectation.

Friedrich Nietzsche said “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you” This quote is often interpreted —with a lot of logic— into the darkness —or negative thoughts— of our unconscious but I want you to go a little beyond a dangerous realm with ineffable and terrifying monsters to often an abandoned or hidden terrain of orphan thoughts.

As paradoxical it might sound, a lot of people do not actually know what they value. They think they do, but most of the time they do not. The idea that we know ourselves is —at least— false. Stare into the abyss, let your disowned thoughts arise from the darkness, apologize, and invite them to live healthy and accepted into the realm of your consciousness.

Questions.

What shall I do with my newfound pen of light?

Do everything you can to help others to find their own light so they can thrive in the worst moments, enjoy the rewards of life and even find happiness and satisfaction in the abyss.

What shall I do tomorrow?

I should act with as much righteousness as I can, to demonstrate with my actions and not my words that I am a better person and that indeed I am improving and that my real regret transformed into a positive attitude.

What shall I do next year?

Work as hard as I can, putting my health into priority and rest from time to time. Remember all my habits when trouble stumbles so I do not need as much time to recover from deep wounds.

What shall I do with my life?

Follow my desires and become the best person that I could be. Bring value and love to those around me, even those who have hurt me. Be forgiving, humble and wise.

What shall I do with my wife?

I do not have a wife but I should explore –with limitations– so I meet more and more women who have traits that I value, so when I finally settle I do it by knowledge and complete acceptance rather than for need or confusion.

What shall I do with my daughter?

I do not have a daughter but I have my little sister. I should try to guide her, with as much wisdom and careful reflection that I have, to let her explore her life and struggle with its challenges, so she does not become brittle nor complacent with what other people tell her. I should both make her stronger while protecting her of the fatal blows of reality.

What shall I do with my parents?

Honor them, while I still have the opportunity. Forgive all their past mistakes while not accepting any trace of the same vices anymore. Share my time with them, so at the end of their days at least they know our relationship had some happy moments.

What shall I do with my son?

I do not have a son, but I have a nephew. I should take care of him, help him maintain his inherent beautiful spirit while teaching him how to be strong enough to take care of himself and others. I should accept him, with his trouble and disease, so he knows he is valuable by the simple act of existing, not for what he produces.

What shall I do with the stranger?

Talk to him with restraint, so I do not make myself vulnerable, but to be willing to be vulnerable if he or she seems trustworthy. To help and guide them, as they were my brothers and sisters but expecting nothing back.

What shall I do with a fallen soul?

Do whatever is in my power that does not compromise my safety or well being so he or she can thrive from hell.

What shall I do with the world?

Accept my ignorance, incompetency and lack of skill in thinking, formulating or applying a correct answer. Do whatever I can do in my power, to bring truth to those around me when I believe they are wrong, so they can share the word and continue to improve the world by disseminating the information.

How shall I educate my people?

Treat them with a lot of respect and humility, so when I think I can add something of value I have an open gate to influence their thoughts. Learn carefully, so I reduce the probability of saying or advising something fatally wrong or inaccurate.

What shall I do with a torn nation?

Shift away to my individual concerns so I can thrive to be a future better leader to whatever group I can influence. Seek a natural rising position to power so to ensure I get at the top with my best character.

What shall I do for God my Father?

Do the best that it is in my power to bring both order and chaos to the people that need it. To be as true to myself as I can. To be the best person I can be.

How shall I deal with the enlightened one?

Ask words for guidance with careful and concerted attention, once he’s finished, remember that his wisdom is not omnipotent and that the value he provides is only as useful as how precisely and completely I can fit it into my life. This means that if something does not work after excrutining test I should abandon his principles.

What shall I do when I despise what I have?

Go through all that is objectively present in my life and start to see what good things are present in my life that I could not find in other lives. Meditate and remember to be grateful for the fact that I still have time to make my peace with my past, enjoy my present and influence a better future.

What shall I do when greed consumes me?

Remember that I do not truly need much to be happy and satisfied with my life. Give money in a strategic and thoughtful manner to the causes and people that I want to help.

What shall I do when I ruin my rivers?

Ask for forgiveness. Accept that sometimes damage is irreversible and there will be times when I have to embrace my loss so I can move on and do better the next time. Remember to myself that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

What shall I do when my enemy succeeds?

Remember that he is not really my enemy, that I might not be competing and that I can be happy and grateful that other people are succeeding. Observe his actions and try to retain as much usable wisdom of my opposite.

What shall I do when I’m tired and impatient?

Ask truthfully if I could be working harder or smarter and act appropriately to the answer. If my impatience is unjustified, put «Tranquilito» by Gerardo Ortiz to remember that greatness takes its time and I need to be patient and realistic to the outcomes I seek. To my exhaustion I should remember that there are times I can still continue but that there are also many times when I should just rest for a little bit. I am more prone to overworking than to rest a lot, so I should have a bias towards humility and realistic expectations.

What shall I do with the fact of aging?

Accept my nature as being time. Enjoy the most I can my present and pay full attention to it. Be willing to be old but not willing to neglect my health. See the unappealable nature of aging and be grateful for all the wisdom I will receive. Be grateful to just have time at all.

What shall I do with my infant’s death?

I should suffer as much as I need, leaving a designated time for it, so the sorrow does not break me into pieces. I should honor his memory and what my future sons would want me to be.

What shall I do in the next dire moment?

I should give all my enclosing attention so I can solve it as soon as possible. I must remain humble and recognize that there are times when problems stay longer than I wish but it does not matter as long as I am working to solve them. If the problem is permanent then I should use it for something positive.

What shall I say to a faithless brother?

That he may not be perfect, but he can surely thrive to whatever he is experiencing as long as he builds faith in himself. Remember him that I have faith in him. Hear him completely, to understand the roots of his hopelessness, so I can show him real evidence that the problem can be overcome and that he has the strength and capacity to do it.

What shall I do to strengthen my spirit?

Work hard. Do not attach me to my amenities. Take cold showers. Accept the truth as it is. Have the courage to go through conflict. Learn, read, meditate, write, be kind and exercise daily. Have a sense of humor. Love discomfort. Tattoo myself to remember what I have been through and what I want for my future.

What shall I do to ennoble my body?

Take care of him, as carefully as I can. Train him and subject it to stress, so it can thrive against the worst situations and problems. Be strong to prolong my life, protect others and myself.

What shall I do with the most difficult of questions?

Take care of them. Accept them with their awakening but painful nature. Listen to them thoroughly and see the truth within them. Maintain what is usable and positive for my life and move on with the unresolvable manners that go beyond my influence.

What shall I do with the poor man’s plight?

Stay with them, with a helping and genuine hand, but not attempting to save them if that means to sacrifice my own being and all the good things I could bring later.

What shall I do when the great crowd beckons?

Maintain my distance. Never too close to the crowd so I can maintain some independence and identity but never so far so I sacrifice relationships and the possibility of helping those in the crowd.

My question.

What shall I do with the ones I cannot forget?

Forgive them, for any trouble they might have caused. Love his memory, carry on and solve what you could have solved when you had the opportunity and then allow you some forgiveness and the compassion to move on.

Conclusion.

I am not saying in any way that my answers are correct, they are just mine. They arouse freely and without judgment. I accept them just what they are. I will come back later, to see what has changed.

Without anything more to say, goodbye.

Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash