Seven Values to Live By.

#1 Be True to Yourself.

Photo by Abhishek Chandra on Unsplash

Everything we let in and push out of our lives is a direct result of what we value and believe in. The people we associate with, our monthly take home and even the car we drive. Everything.

Our values are the internal compass that directs us on our lifelong journey. According to some, they describe your soul; for others, they become your destiny. All in all, they’re pretty important.

John Wooden, born on the morning of October 14th 1910, went on to become one of the greatest NCAA basketball coaches of all time, earning himself the nickname “Wizard of Westwood”. He led the UCLA Bruins men’s to a 664–162 record, during a coaching career spanning over 40 years but he was so much more than that. He was a man of values.

I’ve never been a basketball fan, but nearly a decade ago, I was gifted a John Wooden book. Since that time, I’ve been fascinated by his insight. His coaching accolades speak for themselves, but it’s the man behind the records that I’ve always been most interested in.

He credits his father, Josh Wooden, for much of his upbringing. He respected him a vast amount, and it was a gift from his dad that I want to share.

7-Point Creed

When John Wooden graduated from elementary school, his dad gifted him with a card containing a hand-written 7-point Creed. He kept this card, folded up in his wallet, up until his death in June 2010, and this is what it said:

1. Be True to Yourself
2. Make Each Day Your Masterpiece
3. Help Others
4. Drink Deeply from Good Books
5. Make Friendship a Fine Art
6. Build a Shelter Against a Rainy Day
7. Give Thanks to Your Blessings Each Day

I want to dig a little deeper on each of these points by describing how I interpret them. You may think about them differently but what’s important is that they are a set of values that John Wooden kept nearby at all times.

Be True to Yourself

Don’t get me wrong. Reputation is important that goes without saying, but I do often wonder if we put too much emphasis on appearance, often to the detriment of who we truly are.

John Wooden once said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

I don’t know about you, but I love this.

Make Each Day Your Masterpiece

We can never do more than our best. If you can finish the day and as you lie in bed, think that you’ve done your best you can never do more than that. The aim is to take pride in what we do each day. Keep your standards high, and keep working hard.

Help Others

Some of the greatest joys in life come from helping others without expecting anything else in return. There is a Chinese proverb that sums it up nicely:

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”

Drink Deeply from Good Books

Books shape who we are. The best books can teach us, make us laugh, make us emotional or take us on a trip to a faraway land. Each time you read, you change a little, and it’s impossible to ever revert to the person were. Stand on the shoulders of those that came before you, learn and read good books.

Make Friendship a Fine Art

Don’t take friendship for granted. As we transition to adulthood, and life gets in the way, it’s easy to lose contact with your friends. Your friends are there to support when times are hard and celebrate your success, but it must work both ways. It’s the little things that make the big difference so make them count. Keep regular contact and be there for your friends.

Build a Shelter Against a Rainy Day

For me, this is about protecting the downside. It’s about having a good support network — friends and family. Have some savings in case of an emergency. Be prepared for when things don’t go as you had hoped or expected.

Give Thanks to Your Blessings Each Day

If you’re reading this, you’re incredibly fortunate. Practice showing gratitude each day, and you’ll realise how lucky you are. The more gratitude you show, the more you will find to be grateful for.

Final Thoughts

This creed is over 100 years old, yet it’s as relevant today as the day John Wooden received it.

Even John Wooden himself admits he wasn’t always able to follow the creed but in his words, he “tried and that’s all his dad could have expected, and it’s all he expected from anyone he shared the creed with”.

Values are for guidance. They’re rules to live our life by and to keep us on track. You may choose to adopt the values from the 7-point creed, you might tweak them slightly, or you may discard them entirely what’s important though is that you set out your own beliefs and do your best to live by them every day.

Thanks for reading,

— Dave

You Might Also Enjoy

10 x Proverbs from the Happiest Place on Earth

We Are All a Reflection of Our Average Life.

Before You Go

Thanks for being here. I’d love to keep in touch so join my mailing list now for semi-regular e-mails about what’s been occupying my mind over recent weeks.