Rules give you freedom — Self Control

Most reputed writers make rules to write daily a certain minimum number of words, irrespective of how they feel or even how the words come out.

Why do they adopt such rules? Because rules free them from the moodiness of their minds which is the greatest binding rope for our mind in this current jet age. Even when they are excellent authors, still they are subjected to the mind’s fluctuations which in literary lingo is sometimes called writer’s block. To protect their mind’s fluctuations, they adhere to certain rules.

Such voluntary adoption of rules by creative people refutes the prevailing negative stereotypes that rules choke us or prevents us from being ourselves. This stereotype overlooks that we have two selves within us: the higher self and the lower self.

The higher self is our buried spiritual essence that expresses itself in our nobler aspirations and wiser actions. The lower self is our material conditioning, primarily our mind. It expresses itself in our myopic cravings and impulsive actions. At any particular time, the self that is stronger expresses itself from within us.

Our higher self may be lofty — we may have great talents, brilliants insights, and admirable values. Still, we are always vulnerable ambush by our lower self. Without the protective structure of intelligently designed rules, our higher self won’t get an adequate chance for expression. Though we may believe we are free, we will end up giving free expression to our lower self. Consequently, we will at best underuse our potential and at worst do regrettable things.

Bhagavad Gita (02.64) those who follow scriptural rules attains mercy and purity, which signifies that they go beyond the impure lower self. Thus rules free our higher self from our lower self. That is they free us to become the best we can be.