12 Things I Learned About Jordon Peterson from Reading 12 Rules for Life

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When I first came across Jordon Peterson, I thought he was an angry-misogynistic-narcissistic-egomaniac. At the time, I had only viewed two or three interview clips that I suspect were made to make him appear that way. That was 2018. I had no idea who he was before then. He just came out of nowhere and made me look. Who was this guy, and why did his opinion matter anyway?

I’m the kind of person who judges immediately, then I question my judgments, then I observe, and if I’m that interested, I do my research. When I decided to download his book 12 Rules for Life, I was still sure I didn’t like him. Interestingly enough, I don’t identify as a feminist, the majority of my political views lean to the right, and I have some traditional views about the roles of men and women, so why was I so bothered by him? Well, here’s what I found out:

1. Jordon lays out his thoughts and ideas with conviction. I respect individuals who have conviction, but that’s what bothered me so much about him. He appeared to have such definite opinions about things. It seemed he saw things in black and white, and I like to see grey. But after reading his book, I understood that you must stand for something or you fall for anything. Conviction gives us a compass by which to navigate life.
2. Jordon and I come from similar places. We both grew up in very small, remote Canadian blue-collar towns where the winters were cold, the people were interesting, and many of your friends were likely never going to leave. No matter how much your middle-class parents sheltered you and gave you what you needed, the town would swallow you up into the dark side. You had to be tough, a fighter, and you grew up fast.
3. Jordon isn’t angry, he’s sad. I realize that he has a high level of empathy and that can weigh on a person’s whole being. I also possess this trait. I imagine he has witnessed a lot of human pain in his years practicing as a therapist.
4. It’s clear he loves his family and respects his wife and daughter. The women in Jordon’s life are strong. They hold him up. A misogynist wouldn’t allow that to happen.
5. He’s agreeable and conscientious but appears rather the opposite at times. Again, this comes back to conviction and a need to stand for something. I’m agreeable and conscientious when it matters, but I don’t suffer fools. I gather Jordon is similar.
6. He’s on a mission to help. That doesn’t mean he has a savior complex fueled by a need for domination and control. It means he’s a kind and compassionate person who values human life.
7. I was not surprised when he began speaking about God and Christianity. I think it’s impossible to ask big questions about life without understanding the origins of Christ.
8. He didn’t ask to be famous. Fame chose him. When you have gifts to share, the world opens up for you. It’s like a movement, a pull, or a calling for a greater purpose other than your own self-interests. Using your notoriety to help others is selfless.
9. He’s focused, but I don’t think it comes easily. Jordon’s interests are varied, and his mind is a rabbit hole. He operates on various levels and his inner world is rich and chaotic.
10. He wants everyone to see their potential, but it frustrates him that we complicate life in unnecessary ways. Self-discipline is important to him, but individual freedom and personal responsibility are even more important to him.
11. He’s cynical about things, but also optimistic. He has managed to balance the darkness and the light. This takes practice and perseverance.
12. He knows his fate. People high in empathy understand where they are going and can predict future events through observing patterns.

I realize now that Jordon Peterson is a lot more than I thought. He’s complex and ever-changing like we all are as we learn and grow as human beings. I don’t always agree with everything he says and sometimes I find him brash and sometimes scattered in his thoughts, but no one is perfect. I think it takes a lot of energy to be a mainstay in the public eye and I think our brains can only articulate so much before we begin repeating ourselves or stuttering mid-sentence. Overall, I think Peterson has given us a gift of greater awareness of ourselves and our society. He has helped us question the narrative, our narratives.

S. Angell is a published poet, writer, philosopher, video blogger, and preschool teacher by day. She explores an array of topics including love, life, death, history, and society from a philosophical perspective. You can find her on Instagram @therainydaypoetess or TheRainyDayPoet.com