20 Life Principles From 400 Years Ago You Should Still Practice Today

This post is my take on an article my Krav Maga instructor had posted on Facebook.  It is, in my opinion, a set of life principles worth living by.  The original article was titled “20 Rules Of Life That Will Change You Written By Japanese Samurai 400 Years Ago.”  It originated from the website bjj-world.com, and you can read it HERE.

I will list each of the 20 rules, and add my take on it below.

But first, a little back story on this famous samurai, who originated the work.

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was an expert Japanese swordsman and ronin, who lived from 1584 until 1645.  In case you were wondering, a ronin was a samurai who wandered throughout Japan during the feudal period without a lord or master.

Musashi was not only a master swordsman, but later in life he began practicing many other arts as well.

You may be more familiar with the last work created by Musashi before he died at age 61…he is the author of The Book Of Five Rings.

Life Principle #1- You Should Accept Life As It Comes

There is no one in this world who has lived a picture perfect life.

Life comes with ups and downs.

Some are silly.  Some are serious.

Asking “Why is this happening” is a victim mentality.  Instead, understand that both good and bad things happen to everyone and you can begin to handle the bad things in a logical way, rather than reacting from emotion.

Life Principle #2- Stop Chasing Obsession To Achieve Pleasure

The life principle here is to live in the moment and enjoy life each day rather than obsessing over the chase of money, happiness, etc.

When you slow down and begin enjoying the pleasures of everyday life, such as your relationships, you will begin to feel true happiness, no matter your monetary status.

Now, I am not saying you should sell everything and live off the land, unless you want to.

What I am saying is allow wealth creation to take its natural path and enjoy the journey each step of the way with the people who mean the most to you.

Life Principle #3- Acting On An Impulsive Emotion Is Wrong

Here Musashi goes against some of today’s most popular advice, which is to follow your heart.

Musashi instead believes you should stick to your knowledge and make rational logical decisions based on your strengths rather than on the things you wish were possible.  Now, this doesn’t mean you should never listen to your heart, but if you always act from emotions, you will be reactive more than you will be acting from a position of strength.  When you are in a constant state of reaction, you will always be a step behind those who use logic instead.

Life Principle #4- Do Not Obsess Over Yourself

This is one of today’s greatest life principles because we can see this everyday in social media.

It seems as though the ego is the leading part of the mind today.

Ask yourself how many selfies you saw on social media today.

Now, ask yourself how many selfies you took of yourself today.

The world is bigger than us, and we play a very small role in it.  The more we understand our place, the smoother our lives here on earth will be.

Life Principle #5- Jealousy Should Never Rule Your Life

Many people, both rich and poor, have ruined their relationships and ultimately their lives over jealousy.

It is okay to have goals and ambition.

In fact, you are not living to your true potential if you don’t.

But when you start to covet the belongings of those around you, you must remind yourself of the work they put in to have those belongings.

Life Principle #6- Avoid Attachment To Desire

This goes in line with the previous life principle.

The more you have, the more you are likely to desire.

If you are happy with what you have today, you are more likely to attract even more in your life tomorrow.

Life Principle #7- Never Live In Regret

Of all the life principles, this was one of the hardest for me.

We all have made mistakes in our past.

These mistakes could be in business, or in relationships, but we have all made them.

I have a tendency to focus on these mistakes and really beat myself up over them.

The idea behind this life principle is that you can’t change the past, you can only learn from your mistakes.

Life Principle #8- Don’t Dwell On A Sad Separation

We will all have to deal with sadness at some point in our lives.

Whether it is the end of a relationship, or the death of a loved one, it will happen at some point.

When my dad passed away, I went through all the stages of grieving.  I probably spent way too much time in the anger stage, but that is a conversation for a different post.

I also spent a fair amount of time feeling sad, and just being down.  No matter how sad I felt, it won’t bring my father back.

The best thing I can do is celebrate his life while I live my life to the fullest.  It is the best outlook when you lose someone.  I am not saying it’s easy, but it is healthy.

Life Principle #9- Never Complain In Your Life

Musashi wants us to leave our problems in the past so they do not trap us.

Everyone complains about things from time to time.

It is human nature.

Some of us are bigger complainers than others.

What I have noticed about myself is I go into streaks where I complain much more than normal.

By being cognizant of this, and asking others to hold me accountable, I am able to keep the complaining to a minimum.

When I do so, I am much happier in my day-to-day life.

Life Principle #10- Don’t Let Lust Control Your Life

Musashi notes that we spend so much time on lustful thoughts because we are all sexual beings.

You have a choice in life.

You can base your relationships on love and qualities you find attractive in your significant others.

Or, you can jump from relationship to relationship based solely on looks and sex.  The choice is yours, but most people I know who take the latter option suffer on the inside in the long run.

Life Principle #11- Keep Your Options Open

This life principle goes against one of my favorite mottos, which is to burn the boats.

However, I just finished listening to Ray Dalio’s Principles: Life and Work on Audible.  In it, Dalio talks about the benefits of keeping a radically open mind.  He talks about the importance of understanding what is true, rather than being right.  I believe this to be in line with what Musashi was thinking in this principle as well.  I hope that this is delved in deeper in the Book Of Five Rings, which I plan on reading in the next few months.

Life Principle #12- Don’t Be A Slave To Your Surroundings

In this life principle, Musashi is referring to possessions and luxury.

He states that no material possession is more important that health and family.

There is a lot you can do with money.

However, sometimes there is not enough money in the world to overcome bad health and bad relationships with family.  Or even worse, the loss of a family member.

Life Principle #13- Being Gluttonous Is Wrong

Why???!!!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.  I am the guy who lives to eat, not eats to live.

According to Musashi though, food should be used as fuel and only in the amounts necessary to perform.

Life Principle #14- Don’t Search For Happiness Chasing The Possessions

This principle is in line with what was stated earlier.  Happiness is not found in the possessions.

We should let go of the things that no longer serve any purpose.

Life Principle #15- Do Not Believe Something Just Because Someone Else Thinks So

I am going to refer back to Dalio’s Principles again for this one.

Dalio stated to keep a radically open mind, but to be assertive in what you believe in.  Just because someone else says something is true, doesn’t mean you should follow it blindly, no matter who said it.

Life Principle #16- Respect The Gods, But Do Not Rely Solely On Their Guidance

It doesn’t matter if you are religious.

It doesn’t matter if you believe the universe guides everything.

What does matter is that you understand you control your own destiny.

Take responsibility for both the good and bad in your life.

Life Principle #17- Do Not Fear Death

If you fear death, you will not live your life to the fullest.

We will all die at some point.

Do not die with regrets.

Life Principle #18- Do Not Use Weaponry Unless It Is Necessary

Clearly, this principle is about the use of violence.

However, we all carry a weapon with us each day and use it for both good and bad without realizing it.

That weapon is language.

Your words can be just as deadly as a gun, so think carefully about how you speak to someone.

Life Principle #19- Do Not Hold On To Things You Do Not Need Anymore.

This could mean material things.

This could also mean relationships.

Only surround yourself with positive people and positive surroundings.

Life Principle #20- Protect Your Honor

We should all have our own code of honor.  The things we believe to be moral, regardless of whether or not others believe so.

If you live an honorable life, you can live and ultimately die in peace.

Final Thought

I truly enjoyed reading the original article and doing some research on the type of human being Musashi was.

What other life principles do you live by?