If purpose provides you with the motivation to behave in certain ways, principles guide your behaviour.
Principles (or values) are like a personal GPS, which can assist you to head in the right direction.
Principles are part of your belief system. When you don’t live by your principles you can feel like you have let yourself (and others) down.
For example, an athlete training for a sporting event (purpose) has fairness as one of their guiding principles.
How likely is it the athlete would cheat by using banned drugs to improve their performance?
How would the athlete feel if they did use a banned performance-enhancing drug, knowing that fairness is an important principle for them?
Discuss the concept of principles and their impact on behaviour and wellbeing.
If the athlete stays true to their principles, they are more likely to be proud of performing at their personal best, rather than cheating for the sake of winning.
Circle the principles that are most important to you from the list below. Feel free to add to the list if a principle that is important to you is not included:
Honesty Fairness Responsibility Reliability Integrity
Authenticity Compassion Persistence Kindness Respect
Principles can assist you to demonstrate your purpose and achieve your goals by building your self-efficacy, strengthening your sense of determination and guiding your self-regulation.
Find your purpose, identify your principles and set personal best goals to achieve great things.
So, what was it again you aspire to achieve? How does your goal reflect your principles?
Goal:
Purpose:
Principles:
Discuss the notion that motivation to achieve a goal is increased when the goal demonstrates purpose and reflects our principles. Its achievement will also improve our sense of wellbeing.