We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until you’re clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Jael Toledo | M.S. Marriage and family Therapist

There are 4 core values that I apply in my personal and professional life. Acceptance, possibilities, Trust, and Hope, applying them while guiding my clients through the path of self discovery, which is based on a journey back to themselves. Read more>>

Dr. Tiffany Sizemore | Cardiologist & Legal Consultant

“Mean what you say and say what you mean”. I feel as though many people say what they think someone wants to hear, not what they need to hear. Many times, that will lead to further issues and complications. For instance, if you know that you can not (or do not want to!) go to lunch with a colleague, politely say “I can’t but thank you”. When we say “maybe” or “I’ll see what I can do”, not only will it invite further texts and phone calls to confirm, but it will also leave another person hanging when they could have made other plans. There is no need to be rude or offensive, but sometimes, it is okay to just say “no thank you”! Be true to your word. Be consistent with your thoughts and your words! Read more>>

Natalie Sager | Yoga Instructor, Spiritual Guide & International Book Award Winning Author

For me, personally, Yoga is not just a practice on the mat. It is not just something that I do on the daily to stay in shape. It is a lifestyle. It is a way of thinking, breathing, moving, parenting, etc. When I teach Yoga, I also incorporate many aspects of spirituality, the Laws of the Universe, mindfulness and thread in the 8 limbs of Yoga- a path to a peaceful and purposeful life. These are the tools that help you walk your path with value and principle. The first two limbs are the Yamas and Niyamas. They are the moral and ethical restraints and observances. Within these two limbs are 5 branches for each. The first Yama is Ahimsa which means no harm. Practicing no harm is apart of the Yogic life. It goes beyond the obvious of not harming people or animals or Mother Earth. Read more>>

Shanese Macklin | College Counselor & CEO

What matters the most to me is finding true happiness. There are people in this world who have the “the good life”, the car, the house, the family. They could have a million and one things in the world and yet deep down they’re unhappy, sad, bitter, longing for something more to bring them out of a dark place. People can buy all the happiness in the world and somehow the happiness they truly crave doesn’t exist. Having true happiness and having it within one’s self is the ultimate gift you can have. Once you’ve established that, everything around you will fall into place and those things bring added happiness. Establish happiness within, and watch your life become worth living. Read more>>

Alexis Resnick Ph.D. | Licensed Psychologist

A couple of core values that matter to me most are: trust, honesty, kindness, genuineness, and respect. These values are important in my personal and professional life. Personally, these core values have helped shape me and have helped me create meaningful connections. Professionally, these qualities are essential to the therapeutic relationship and can ultimately help with patient engagement in the therapeutic process and attainment of therapeutic goals. Read more>>