You never know what might supply you with a jolt of inspiration.
The other day a reader gave me a newspaper clipping—an obituary of a man I never knew. She clipped it because she thought the gentleman sounded like a perfect example of a man who lived life with intention.
The lengthy article was a thoughtful and articulate description of a life lived fully and with purpose. Among other things, the obit listed three principles that guided the gentleman’s life. The remainder of the article described how he lived up to those principles through involvement in various causes and hobbies.
A legacy built on guiding principles
The article intrigued me. I liked the idea of capturing the purpose and values of a life in a few short sentences. Obviously, such a short list cannot capture all the values and passions of a life, but there is something very intentional about trying to state your main beliefs succinctly.
So I decided to come up with my own list of guiding principles or key life values, or whatever you might wish to call them. I did not spend hours pondering this question, so I’m sure I’ve missed some things. But that’s OK. An incomplete list is better than none.
My Guiding Principles (version 1.0)
- I believe everyone has a purpose and can make a difference in their world.
- I believe positive change is always possible.
- I believe everyone should be encouraged to be fully themselves and live their own story.
I could go on but I’ll stick with these three simple beliefs for now.
After listing the gentleman’s guiding principles, the writer of the obit challenged readers to honor the deceased by living out his principles. The challenge was followed by a short list of examples.
In the same vein, I now offer a few suggestions for how you or I might live up to my principles:
- Be a positive influence in your world. Use your words, attitudes, and actions for good.
- Choose to be content and grateful with what you have and where you are.
- Make the most of today. Pay attention. Make intentional choices. Take the opportunities that come your way.
- Take a small step toward dream or life goal
I hope that when it comes time for someone to write my obituary, they can identify my core values and recognize the ways I tried to live according to them.
How about you?
What are your guiding principles? Do those closest to you know what you stand for and what you care about?
If you don’t know, maybe it’s time to think about it.
