Standing Tall — Jordan Peterson Lessons Pt 1

I’ve been reading Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote to Chaos lately. I’ll be posting my thoughts on it periodically as I ruminate over the book.

It’s really important for me to teach Briana to stand tall if she’s going to be happy, productive and a light of goodness in this world.

There are two parts to standing tall: Physically and mentally (or emotionally).

Here’s what Peterson means by standing tall physically.

“…attend carefully to your posture. Quit drooping and hunching around. Speak your mind. Put your desires forward, as if you had a right to them — at least the same right as others. Walk tall and gaze forthrightly ahead. Dare to be dangerous. Encourage the serotonin to flow plentifully through neural pathways desperate for its calming influence.”

By standing tall physically, without drooping and hunching you can actually amplify the good feelings in your body. Chemically more serotonin will be released. More serotonin makes you more happy, less anxious, sad and less likely to back down when you should stand up for yourself. People will start to react to you as if you are winner.

Briana will no doubt notice the way people react to her when they see she’s standing tall. She will more likely be happier, less anxious and more likely defend what is right. This will create a positive feedback loop further releasing serotonin, making her life better.

By standing tall emotionally and mentally means, as Peterson notes, “voluntarily accept the burden of Being.” Peterson explains further, “your nervous system responds in an entirely different manner when you face the demands of life voluntarily. You respond to a challenge, instead of bracing for a catastrophe.”

I hope to impart these lessons to Briana so she find strength to deal with all the adversity life will throw at her.

God forbid Sabrina or myself become sick, ill or worse before she finishes school, but if something bad does happen she won’t be overwhelmed with despair.

If things go great, she will be “emboldened” and “ pursue her rightful destiny” free of the “disrupting influence of mortal despair.”

It’s all a father could hope for his daughter.