Ground Yourself First

One of the difficult jobs as parents is to restrict privileges in order to recalibrate behavior and build character. In my experience, you must stay firm in your choice, clarify the why, and focus on the desired behaviors.

Most importantly, I have learned we must also "ground" ourselves first by taking time to evaluate our ability to role-model, set clear expectations, and provide just-in-time feedback for the behaviors we desire. Often, we're as much part of the problem as our children.

In organizations, this practice is just as important. Before giving a direct report corrective feedback on a six-month performance review, ask yourself: Did I give candid and timely coaching? Did I set clear expectations, written and oral? Did I role-model what I expected? If a surprise appears in a review, it's a coaching gap, not a performance mystery. Taking personal accountability as a leader is a great way to accelerate change in an organization.

This past weekend, I read a chapter on becoming principle-centered. Many of us define our worth based on attachments to material possessions, titles, and fame. All of this weakens the roots of happiness and dulls our capabilities. Principles like truthfulness, service, hard work, respect, gratitude, fairness, and integrity bring an everlasting shine to our being. 💛

Principles lead to new opportunities, self-confidence, and an improved social order. We become better leaders, parents, and friends.

This past week, I thought of principles as the habits we practice to brighten our shine on the world.

Many of us are conditioned with positive daily habits, such as

✅ Brushing our teeth to ensure gum health, avoid decay, and remove stains

✅ Washing our body to remove germs, impurities, and smell clean.

✅ Wearing fresh clothes to be presentable.

However, what habits are we practicing daily to nurture our inner strength?

This week, practice focusing on one principle a day to strengthen the habit. You can even start your first three days with the Golden Trifecta: Love, Service, Action. 🤓

🌟Be Grounded for 7 Days

Day 1 Love: Send one genuine check-in.

Day 2 Service: Do one act that saves someone time.

Day 3 Action: Complete one uncomfortable task before noon.

Day 4 Truthfulness: Say one hard truth kindly and directly.

Day 5 Integrity: Keep a delayed promise or renegotiate it clearly.

Day 6 Respect: Listen without interrupting; reflect back what you heard.

Day 7 Gratitude: Write a three-line thank-you naming behavior and impact.

And remember to ask yourself each day if you are role-modeling, setting expectations, and driving accountability.

Do this to purify your character and brighten your shine from the inside out! ☀️

© Nuri Dimler 2025