“Who am I? What are the components that make the person that is me into being?”
I think each of us would have a very different answer to this question. After all, we are all unique, completely different from each other, and at the same time, we have many things that we can share.
I have been doing a lot of thinking into this question. What are the foundational elements that we use as a guide to navigating through life? I would say that a massive part of who we are is based on the choices we make and the path we choose to walk.
Our values and principles – the type of words that come to mind when you think about what you value most in life and the rules you live by. If we don’t have a solid understanding of these basic concepts, we are drifting through life with a broken compass, like a slave to our impulses and emotions.
There is no right or wrong type of values or principles, only healthy and unhealthy, things that can damage our lives and the people around us.
Figuring out what these values and principles are is not a matter of picking what you think others would like or how you think they should be. This exercise takes brutal honesty. It can reveal shameful attributes—a dark side in your character that can be difficult to look into.
Humans are not perfect, far from it. Still, if we can try our best to aim for a high standard that inhabits the default ingredients of our humanity: joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, compassion, calmness, inspiration, excitement, hope, anticipation, satisfaction, etc. We will always be moving forward towards the light.
It is no easy task to aim for these things but it is very much possible if we believe in who we are as long as we are honest with ourselves in every moment and aim to be better each day. Skies the limit.
Remaining consistent is the key, developing habits that reflect these choices.
I invite you to perform this exercise: Come up with a list of your values and principles.
Note: Write down your definitions of what each value is for you.
I will provide you with an example to get you started from my lists.
Remember always stay true to how you’re thinking and feeling in the moment. That is the only way you can change.
Kurtis Mercer’s Core Values Examples:
- Honesty – Being honest with yourself and others.
- Hard work– Putting in effort and recognizing you can’t have a reward without a challenge.
- Compassion – The recognition of the love you have for yourself and the compassion you have for others.
- Respect – The respect you have for yourself and the respect you give to others.
- Intelligence– The recognition of your intellect and capabilities to create a meaningful impact.
- Freedom – The choice to speak your mind freely, go anywhere you want, buy anything you want, live any way you want, but not to say if your choices lead to others being hurt, you won’t be appropriately dealt with.
- Justice– To hold accountable those who commit crimes against humanity and take the proper action based on the severity of the crime.
Kurtis Mercer’s Personal Guiding Principles Examples
- Speak your mind no matter the possible reaction from others.
- Aim for being the dumbest person in the room.
- Always follow your heart.
- Recognizing the difference between when your heart is speaking to you as opposed to your mind.
- Stand up for your beliefs, but don’t be close-minded in never changing them.
- Always listen to what others have to say; you never know what golden nugget they can gift you.
- Treat others with respect, especially when they’re not respecting you.
