PRINCIPLES: WHY ARE THEY SO RELEVANT NOW?
- Toby B.
- Mar 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 29
Modern society displays worrying trends, particularly for mental health. Suicide rates among men remain three time higher than those of women, a consistent trend since the 1990’s. Women on the other hand, are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, while the rates of self-harm and eating disorders have surged in recent decades.
Although we have advanced technologically as a society, we have also become less resilient. That is not to diminish the very real issues many face, however, my concern is the structures that once provided stability, and the backbone of society have been eroded.
Religion, once a cornerstone of British life, is in steep decline. In 2011, 25% of people reported “No religion,” by 2021 this had risen to 37%.
Workplaces have shifted to flattened structures, offering fewer opportunities for advancement, more ambiguous decision-making and weaker leadership.
Social spaces have diminished as the ease of home entertainment makes communities less integrated and individuals more isolated. Pubs, once the hub of community life, have nearly halved since 1980.
Political and social cohesion are under strain, with Britain ranking the second most politically polarised country after the United States.
With external institutions weakening, many find themselves lacking a clear sense of direction. In an era of constant change, we must evolve and create new frameworks – the recent boom of sport and fitness culture perhaps reflects this. But beyond physical resilience, a set of personal principles can serve as the tiller that guides us forward. They provide stability, clarity and a framework for decision making. This allows us to navigate challenges (even those we have never encountered before) with confidence and intuition.
Putting Principles to the Test
A set of personal principles does more than bring consistency, they are central to making good decisions, living well and forging resilience. I experienced this in 2021, when I suffered from chronic post-viral fatigue for nine long months.
At the time, I had just reached peak fitness before suddenly I was incapable of any strenuous exercise. My body shut down, it was drained by the smallest efforts and had no capacity to handle stress. Doctors had no solution. In this situation, when everything felt like it had been taken from me, simple principles provided guidance.
The journey through the illness forced me to strip life back to its fundamentals. I had to cut out external stimulation – no dating, limited socialising, no alcohol, no training and big dietary changes. Not easy when you’re in your late twenties!
Instead of resisting, I accepted my situation. I focussed on what was in my control, applied my guiding reason and remained positive during my recovery process. I built a daily routine around breathwork, meditation, cold water therapy and an anti-inflammatory diet.
The road to recovery was not linear bit more like a series of waves. I would improve, reach a peak, go beyond my capacity and crash to a new low. The volatility and emotional test were extreme, but I realised I had to reduce the height of the peaks and troughs. Consistency was key. The more principled, stable and disciplined my approach, the more the curve gradually ascended towards full health.
That lived experience proved the value of principles. They were tested under pressure, refined through experience and became integral. I now look back on that time as one of the best experiences of my life. I learnt more in those months that I could have in a decade of health.
Not long after my recovery, my brother observed the change in me. He told me a quote that resonated:
Make your own Principles.
We are a representation of our past, living in the present, and shaping the future. Yet, because the future is unknown and uncertain, we are always beholden to the situation at hand. To navigate this reality, we must equip ourselves with the mental and physical tools that give us the best chance of overcoming challenges. That is resilience.
Here is how you can define and implement your own principles:
1. Collect your principles over time.
They cannot be chosen arbitrarily; they must be found through lived experience.
They must be carefully collected over time, identifying and selecting those that resonate the most with you.
Learn not just from your own life lessons but those of others.
2. Align your principles with your priorities.
Identify what truly matters to you and let your principles reflect those priorities.
When clearly defined, they shape your outlook, decisions and actions.
3. Internalise and live by them.
Principles are not just written down, they must be learned, tested and embodied.
The goal is for them to become intuitive, shaping responses without hesitation.
Thus, principles define your identity, enabling you to stay on the path you aspire to follow.
4. Be adaptable.
Principles are not rigid rules but a framework to guide decision making.
As we gain experience, some principles evolve. That is not inconsistency but growth and change in the face of evolving circumstances.
Another factor that makes principles important is their role in character formation. Character is not something we are born with but build over a lifetime. It is shaped by childhood, education, career, relationships, and exposure to the world. Every experience leaves a mark, but what defines us is how we interpret and take forward those experiences.
In a shifting world, a set of principles can provide us a framework for challenging times. Aside from being relevant at the organisational level, we should all develop a set of personal principles to provide the blueprint for resilience, direction and purpose.
Ask who you want to be and build yourself well.
As one 16th century Japanese samurai, strategist and writer said:
Thanks for reading. If it added value, please like, share and subscribe.
Keep moving forward.
Toby
Comments