We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until your 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.

Brianna Flanagan | Photographer & Culinary Artist

A value that is important to me is kindness. Showing kindness can require great strength and patience, especially on difficult days. It is worth it to be kind to yourself and others because it can change everyone involved. Whether it brightens their day, gives you a new friend, or causes you to become stronger at adapting to new experiences. I believe this is an important value in life, because it shows the true strength that you have and how much self-love you give yourself. Read more>>

Kristin Edwards | Cannabis-Infused Yoga Instructor

I want to make a positive impact in people’s lives. This is one of the guiding principles in my life that I also apply to Top Shelf Yoga. Looking around at our society and our world, there are a lot of Big problems. It can be overwhelming when trying to figure out how to help. It’s easy to be discouraged and think, “How can one person make a difference?” I focus my efforts on making a positive impact on an individual level. It feels great to know that if only one person comes to my yoga class, I can help that one person feel calmer, or I can help that one person have less pain that day. I can’t improve the whole world, but I can improve one person’s world. Read more>>

Amanda Phalen | Model and Emergency Room Worker

In terms of my modeling career, I’ve based everything I do off the principle of confidence and self love. I spent years as a child and young adult criticizing and doubting myself, to the point of hospitalization and attempted suicide. I want to stress to everyone that views my work that confidence comes from within. And self love isn’t selfish. After all, if we can’t love ourselves first, nobody can. Read more>>