You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything! That is the title of an Aaron Tippon song from 1991. I was in college…and I remember it well. I still sing it regularly. There is a great message behind it! If we don’t know who we are at our deepest core, our decisions will switch directions like a flag in a tornado. The things we stand for should guide us as we live life AND as we try to make our lives better. Let’s face it. We all want to get better. Whether we want to get healthier, become more financially stable, or build stronger relationships. A great first step in the direction of personal progress is to understand our own personal principles.
If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes with me, you’ve heard me preach on the topic of identifying and defining our personal principles. Throughout our personal health journey, I’ve come to the realization that knowing what we stand for (and why we stand for it) has a major impact on our personal growth. If you’re someone who’s trying to create a better life for yourself, then defining your personal principles is a crucial step toward achieving that goal. Personal principles are the values, beliefs, and ideals that guide our actions and decisions, and they play a significant role in shaping our identity and determining our success. In this blog post, we’ll look at the top 6 reasons I’ve found why defining our personal principles is essential for our personal growth.
- Clarity and Focus
One of the most significant benefits of defining our personal principles is that it provides us with clarity and focus. When we have a clear understanding of our values and beliefs, we can make better decisions that align with our goals and aspirations. Our personal principles serve as a compass that guides us toward what’s important, and away from distractions and detours.
- Self-Awareness
Defining our personal principles requires introspection and self-reflection, which in turn, helps us develop self-awareness. When we take the time to identify our values and beliefs, we become more aware of our strengths and weaknesses, as well as our likes and dislikes. This self-awareness allows you to make better choices that align with your personality and goals, leading to a more fulfilling life.
- Improved Relationships
Our personal principles also play a significant role in our relationships with others. When we have a clear understanding of our values and beliefs, we can communicate them effectively to others, and we’re more likely to attract like-minded people who share our values. This leads to stronger, more meaningful relationships that are built on mutual respect and understanding.
- Increased Resilience
Defining our personal principles also helps us develop resilience, which is essential for overcoming challenges and setbacks. When we have a clear understanding of our values and beliefs, we’re better equipped to handle adversity and stay focused on our goals. Our personal principles act as a source of motivation and inspiration, helping us persevere through difficult times.
- Decisiveness
Knowing our personal principles helps us make informed decisions about when to say yes and when to say no. Knowing our principles allows us to identify opportunities that align with our values and avoid those that do not. This ability to set boundaries and make intentional choices based on our principles is powerful in creating a better life by prioritizing what’s important and avoiding distractions. Knowing our principles not only helps us define who we are but also empowers us to make choices that align with our values, leading to a more fulfilling life.
- Greater Sense of Purpose
Finally, defining our personal principles gives us a greater sense of purpose and direction. When we have a clear understanding of our values and beliefs, we can live a more purposeful life that’s aligned with our goals and aspirations. Personal principles act as a roadmap that guides us toward what’s important and helps us make the most of our time and energy.
Our Principles Grow As We Grow
It is essential to recognize that personal principles are not static and unchanging. Instead, they should be continually evolving and growing as we gain new experiences, perspectives, and knowledge.
Growing and changing our principles over time is crucial for personal growth and development. As we live through new things and encounter different challenges, we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. Our beliefs and values may shift slightly as we gain new insights and understandings, and this can lead to changes in our personal principles.
Allowing our personal principles to evolve and grow over time is essential for us to adapt to new situations and challenges. It is totally fine to reevaluate our principles in light of new information and experiences. My health journey is currently steeped in cardio…but I know without a doubt that will change over time as become more “whole body” focused. A principle that served us well for years may no longer align with our continuously changing milestones and goals.
As we gain more knowledge and experience, we become more aware of the complexities of the world, and our personal principles can reflect this growing awareness. We can then apply this newfound understanding to our relationships, career, and other aspects of our lives, leading to more positive outcomes.
Bottom Line Y’all…
Defining our personal principles is essential for a better life. It provides us with clarity and focus, self-awareness, improved relationships, increased resilience, decisiveness, and a greater sense of purpose. It is a continuous process that needs to be reevaluated regularly to make sure it still aligns with our growing life experiences. If you haven’t already defined your personal principles, I encourage you to find the time to start. Our personal principles are unique to us, and they’re an essential part of who we are. Identify them, and you’ll be on your way to creating a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Pivot Then Live It 
Leave a Reply