The Compass Within: Leading by Guiding Principles

Recently, I visited a First Nations community — and it was one of the most grounding experiences I’ve had in some time.

What struck me wasn’t just what they said, but how they lived their teachings. Their principles weren’t decorative — they were foundational. Passed down, practiced, and alive in the way they made decisions, led their people, and related to the land and each other.

It left me reflecting:

What are my own guiding principles?

Not just beliefs shaped by experiences or fleeting perceptions. Those shift and evolve. They can be helpful, but they’re not always stable.

Principles, on the other hand, are different.

They are the quiet compass in the storm. The clarity when noise and emotion threaten to take over. They remind us who we are, and who we’re becoming.

In leadership — and in life — this matters.

Too often, we get pulled in many directions:

1. By urgency

2. By performance expectations

3. By what others think

4. By outdated stories we’ve been telling ourselves

But when we pause and root ourselves in principles, everything shifts.

There’s power in saying: “This is what I stand for. This is how I choose to show up - regardless of the situation.”

Recently, I took some time to reflect and capture the principles that guide me. Not for branding. Not for performance. But as a way to come home to what matters most.

To open to the full breadth of information is to discover wisdom. To embrace love is to awaken your creative spirit. To honour the art of creating is to have courage to surrender to the unknown. Integrity is meeting challenges with the bravery to witness truth. Grace is the gift of seeing yourself as part of a sacred whole

These principles reflect the values that shape how I lead, create, and support others.

And now, I offer this as a moment of reflection for you:

What principles are guiding your leadership right now?

If everything else fell away — what truths would remain?

Let this be your compass.

From my heart to yours,