What Are Your Guiding Principles

This past weekend I spent a few days in our great nation’s capital. For me it is always a humbling experience. I toured all the memorials and I read some of the quotes from our forefathers and past presidents. I took the time to reflect on what our freedom is worth and what it has cost our nation. 

You are probably wondering what all this has to do with personal growth and personnel development? Well… Everything. When you believe in something so strongly you are guided to take certain actions and these actions stem from your principles.

 I call these beliefs your Guiding Principles. Just like our nation’s founders and leaders had guiding principles, you do too. Our nation’s freedom came at a great expense and our leaders were willing to take a stand for what they believed was in the best interest of the people, even at the cost of their own lives. They were ridiculed, judged, hated and in some cases assassinated…..because they held steadfast to their Guiding Principles. 

Have you ever sat down and just gave this some thought? Do you know what your Guiding Principles are? Perhaps you just never thought through your own set of Guiding Principles. You live your life a certain way guided by key factors that made you who you are….your education and experiences, your role models, and your genetics. And, as we gain new insights and experiences, your Guiding Principles stay steadfast and your core values may change.