The trip to uncover my principles and values

Felippe De Pin
3 min readMay 25, 2023

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Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

As we navigate life, we constantly face choices and decisions that can impact our personal and professional success. We often turn to our principles and values to guide us in making these decisions. Whether we realize it or not, our principles and values are the foundation of our beliefs, behaviors, and actions. They shape the way we interact with the world around us and ultimately determine our level of success in life. As such, it is essential to understand the importance of principles and values and how they can be used to achieve personal and professional success.

What is the difference between principles and values?

Principles and values are often used interchangeably, but the two have some key differences. Principles are the fundamental beliefs or rules that guide our behavior and decision-making. They are often rooted in moral or ethical standards designed to help us achieve a specific outcome. For example, the principle of honesty may guide us always to tell the truth, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.

Values, on the other hand, are the beliefs or qualities that we hold in high regard. They are often more subjective than principles and are used to guide our personal preferences and priorities. For example, the value of loyalty may show us to prioritize relationships and commitments above other concerns.

Why is it important to define principles?

Defining your principles is essential to achieving personal and professional success. When you clearly understand your principles, you can make decisions that align with your goals and values. This helps build a sense of consistency and reliability in your actions, increasing your trustworthiness and reliability among your peers and colleagues. Additionally, defining your principles can improve your self-awareness, leading to greater confidence and resilience in facing challenges.

How can I determine what my principles are?

Determining your principles can be challenging, requiring much self-reflection and introspection. However, there are a few strategies that can help you to identify your principles:

  1. Reflect on experiences: Take time to reflect on your past experiences and consider the principles guiding your behavior.
  2. Consider values: Consider the qualities and beliefs you hold in high regard and how they might guide your behavior in different situations.
  3. Look to others: Consider the people you admire and respect and the principles they embody. These can provide valuable insights into the principles that are important to you.
  4. Seek feedback: Ask trusted friends, family members, or colleagues to provide feedback on the principles they see guiding your behavior.
Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash

To sum up, principles and values are the secret sauce in your personal and professional life. Once you grasp the distinction between them and create your guiding principles, you can lay a solid groundwork for success that’s true to yourself, dependable, and makes you confident to face any challenge.

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