#Core Values

Welcoming Change While Standing Firm on Values

Finally, put principle into practice with simple habits. First, craft a one-page values charter—three to five nonnegotiables with brief definitions. Next, apply an integrity test to choices: Does this advance my values, violate them, or merely preserve comfort? Set red lines (actions you will not take) and green lines (experiments you will try for 30–90 days). Seek a diverse “truth council” that can challenge blind spots, and run small pilots before scaling. In this way, you welcome change as a tutor, while your values remain the teacher. [...]

Self-Discovery Through the Lens of Our Affections

Ultimately, recognizing and reflecting on what we love is a potent exercise in self-discovery. By mindfully curating our affections, we can steer the development of our character. As Aquinas intimates, to love wisely is to live authentically, for in the things we choose to treasure, we continuously reveal—and reshape—who we truly are. [...]

Risk as a Mirror of Our Deepest Values

Recognizing that risk reveals value encourages us to make more conscious choices. Rather than shying away from difficult decisions, we might instead ask ourselves: 'What am I willing to risk for this?' By clarifying what we are willing to lose, we better understand what we truly want to protect, nurture, or achieve. In this way, as Winterson suggests, the risks we take become declarations of our deepest values. [...]

The Strength of a Tree Lies in Its Roots; So Too Our Courage in Our Values — Chinua Achebe

While Achebe writes with an African sensibility, the proverb’s power transcends context. Across cultures, whether in Viktor Frankl’s *Man’s Search for Meaning* (1946), where personal values help survivors endure trauma, or in modern movements for justice, courage is rooted in commitment to core beliefs. [...]

The Strength of a Tree Lies in Its Roots; So Too Our Courage in Our Values — Chinua Achebe

Great leaders draw from deeply-rooted values for guidance. Nelson Mandela’s lifelong dedication to reconciliation and equality in South Africa exemplifies how unwavering adherence to core values inspires collective courage and social transformation. [...]

Finding Passion: A Blend of Love and Purpose - Emma Watson

The quote provides a balanced approach to finding fulfillment—acknowledging not just personal joy but also your commitment to larger principles and societal contributions. [...]

What We Suffer Reveals What We Care About - Theodore Roethke

On a broader level, this quote explores a universal truth of the human condition: that suffering is inseparable from our most meaningful connections, aspirations, and loves. It underscores the idea that pain is not just a negative experience, but a testament to the things that truly matter to us. [...]