The Genetic Code of Personality: Why Principles Matter!

Principles before personalities. How we love to recite this phrase. It rolls off the tongue easily. It is advice we give ourselves and others when we hear something we don’t like. It reminds us to object to the message, not the messenger; it is a caution against ad hominem comments or attacks.

It is usually taken as advice, not truth, but it is both sound advice and a great truth. As advice, it is a caution; as truth, it is a proposition. The truth in this phrase is that principles underlie personalities; our principles become our personalities; principles precede and predict personalities.

Our principles are the genetic code of our personalities. We live by our principles, which will, over time, manifest as our personalities.

There are self-centred principles, like: I am nearly always right, the world should be doing what I want, or I am the most important part of this part of the world. Or principles of acceptance, like: I should bend to fit reality, I don’t have the final say in everything, or I am here to serve others.

A different personality will result from each of these principle sets. If I live by self-centred principles, my personality will be described as opinionated and arrogant. If I live by principles of acceptance, my personality will be described as polite and calm.

Principles matter; they become our personalities.

Principles before personalities, good advice and a great truth.