Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how different people respond to rules — and I use “rules” broadly (see below for examples) to mean any kind of instruction to do or not do something.
I love to identify categories. Abstainers/moderators. Leopards/alchemists. Radiators/drains. And I now I can’t stop thinking about these four categories.
To see if you spot yourself in these categories, ask yourself:
How do I respond to an outer rule? A law, a traffic sign, a “request” from a spouse; a work deadline, an admonition from your doctor, an appointment with a trainer, social protocol?
How do I respond to an inner rule? A New Year’s resolution; a decision to exercise more; putting in work on a self-generated project (writing a novel, planting a garden).
With that in mind, consider whether any of these types rings a bell…
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Questions other’s/Questions own = Questioner
Accepts other’s/Accepts own = Upholder
Accepts other’s/Rejects own = Obliger
Rejects other’s/Rejects own = Rebel
Rejects other’s/Accepts own = ??
Seems like you’re missing a fairly obvious category, given that there are only four ways to respond to two variables. I’d submit that there are people who believe that they know more than others or that they aren’t beholden to others who would fit into this missing category.
I’m somewhere between a Questioner and a Rebel. I follow rules that could, if broken, land me in jail or exact a high fine or punishment, not because I’m a rule follower but because the punishment is enough of a deterrent. I don’t set a lot of goals or rules for myself and I chafe at others (e.g. workplace, “boss”) trying to do so.