What principles define how I live?
If I’m being honest, I could answer that in two words: do what’s right for me.

But let’s back up. It’s never quite that simple, is it? Life isn’t about just one principle; it’s about weaving several into something that holds you steady while the world keeps spinning.

So let’s dive in. We’ve got a lot to unpack.

1. Honor My Light and My Dark

I’ve learned that they coexist. My light; my love, my ambition, my ability to shine… doesn’t work without my dark. My shadows, my pain, my past failures, my doubts. These are just as much a part of me.

We live in a world that wants to romanticize the light, pretending that joy, happiness, and success are the only things worth chasing. But to me, that’s the dangerous lie. Without knowing your darkness, you can’t understand the full spectrum of who you are.

I honor both. They’re part of the same whole.

Actionable Truth:
I don’t chase perfection; I embrace the whole of me, all my beautiful contradictions.

2. The Power of Doing What’s Right for Me

If I’m being honest, I’ve spent far too many years in my life pleasing everyone else, trying to make sure everyone’s happy. There’s a special kind of exhaustion that comes from running on empty because you’re too busy filling up everyone else’s tank. I was told to be “nice,” to “follow the rules,” to “fit in.” But these teachings didn’t align with who I am, who I feel deep in my bones.

For a while, I was afraid to say “no” because it felt selfish. And maybe it is, but I’ve come to understand that selfish isn’t a dirty word. It’s self-care disguised as rebellion.
Doing what’s right for me isn’t about being cold or distant. It’s about honoring my energy, my voice, my boundaries, and yes, my light. When I respect myself, I can be a better version of myself for everyone else.

Actionable Truth:
If it doesn’t honor your energy or your joy, don’t entertain it. You’re allowed to decline and still be kind.

3. Finding the Joy (In Every Damn Thing)

Life isn’t all sunshine and roses. Sometimes it’s grit, rain, and mud-stained shoes. And guess what? That’s okay. In fact, I’ve found that joy often hides in the most unexpected places.

It’s in the mornings when I sip tea on the balcony and hear the quiet hum of the world waking up. It’s in laughing at myself when I trip over my own two feet… yes, I still do that, and no, I’m not embarrassed anymore. It’s in the small victories; sending an email I’ve been putting off, finishing a project I’ve been procrastinating on, or simply making it through a tough day.

You know, the “small stuff” is what adds up to the biggest joy, and I’ll always seek it out.

Actionable Truth:
Joy isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you create. Even in the hard moments, there’s always something to be grateful for.

4. Honor, Respect, Loyalty: Not Just Words, But My Foundations

I can’t stress enough how much these values anchor me. I live by them because they remind me what it means to be human.

• Honor is about showing up for myself first and for others when I can.
• Respect is about listening, whether it’s to someone else’s needs or my own.
• Loyalty is about being true to my commitments… to my goals, my dreams, my loved ones, and myself.

But loyalty isn’t blind. It’s discerning. Sometimes, loyalty requires walking away from the things that no longer serve you, and that can be people, habits, or situations that drain you. I stay loyal to growth, to the truth, to what elevates me.

Those values don’t belong to a corporation or a person. They belong to me, and I will honor them with my actions.

Actionable Truth:
Loyalty isn’t about staying in toxic situations. It’s about being loyal to your values, your heart, and your higher self.

5. Rewriting the Rules

Let’s talk about the real kicker: the rules we’ve been taught to follow. The ones that are drummed into us from birth; the rules about success, about who we should be, how we should love, what is “acceptable.” Those rules come from systems built on greed, power, and control. They were never made for people like you and me.
So why are we still following them?

I’m rewriting my principles daily. I’m rejecting the old systems that have no place in my life, and I’m building my own.

Why? Because my truth is mine. And it’s time for me to start living by it, not someone else’s idea of what I should be.

Actionable Truth:
The only rules worth following are your own. Don’t live based on what’s expected of you; live based on who you truly are.

Final Thought: Breaking Free from the Mold

If you asked me what principles define how I live, I’d tell you they’re the ones I’ve had to unlearn first. The ones that came from being too busy people-pleasing, from hiding my darkness, from adhering to an outdated system that doesn’t serve me.

I’m building my own rules now. And while it’s not always easy, it’s always worth it. Because when you start living by your own truth, you stop surviving and start thriving.