I think “do to others what they would have you do to them” would be a better rule. Everyone has different life philosophies and principles, and on a more concrete level, different behaviours and mannerisms. Would it not be ignorant and perhaps self-righteous to assume that others want to be treated the way that you do? It’s similar to the gift-buying principle – buy a gift that the person, not you, would like to receive.
[...] and shaping up. I have some news for you that may be troubling for you at first. Following the Golden Rule or having something like it in place and trying really hard every day to follow it is not going get [...]