#Value Alignment

Choose Direction Over Speed to Honor Values

Ultimately, the same logic applies beyond the individual. Societies that prize direction over pace focus on freedoms and capabilities rather than raw output. Amartya Sen’s Development as Freedom (1999) argues that development should expand people’s real choices, not just their GDP. This dovetails with Beauvoir’s ethos: worthwhile progress elevates human freedom responsibly. When our collective compass points toward dignity and agency, even measured steps move the world in the right direction. [...]

Choosing the Right Goals Before the Ascent

In closing, Covey’s imagery is a call to intentionality. Temporary rewards may follow any climb, but long-term fulfillment depends on the wisdom of choosing the right wall. By investing the effort upfront to align our actions with our deepest values, we stand a far better chance of reaching a summit worth celebrating—not just for achievement’s sake, but for a life lived with clarity and purpose. [...]