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My Personal Values

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I am far from perfect, but I strive to uphold and live by these three values in all facets of my life. These values are the guides by which I make decisions and behave. They are the rubric by which I judge myself when reflecting and working to improve. These values shape my philosophy and who I am as a person, father, friend, colleague, and coach. Below are brief explanations of what these values mean.

HONOR

 

"Honor" is a broad term. It means doing the right thing and acting with integrity - even if you could get away with doing wrong. It means being a person of your word and doing what you say you will do. It means doing things to the best of your ability. It means being grateful for what you have and for what's in your life. It means respecting your parents and elders (à la the 5th Commandment). It means acknowledging and following through with obligations. Honor means respecting others and their lives (à la the 7th, 8th, and 10th Commandments). Honor is admitting mistakes and making up for them. Honor is taking both the high and the right road.

FREEDOM

 

Freedom is both a privilege and a responsibility. Freedom is independence. Being free allows us the ability to make our own choices and take control of our lives. It means that we are responsible for our actions and the outcomes in our life. It also means that we are capable of improving. Without freedom, we cannot live a full life. To value freedom is to respect others' freedom and independence. We do not impede upon others, and if we are in a position of authority or influence, we empower others and help them be independent and responsible.

TRUTH

 

As they say, "all progress begins with the truth." Not only is telling the truth (or more accurately, not lying) the 9th Commandment, but nothing can improve or be accomplished unless we are honest. People cannot heal or be happy or be good without the truth. Society and communication are meaningless without it. Truth and honesty are the moral - and practical - substance from which all else is derived. Lying is the root of evil; truth is the root of goodness, and the pursuit of truth and goodness is the most noble pursuit of all.

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