If you read enough productivity or self-improvement literature, you’ll notice authors tend to throw “values” and “principles” into a blender and use them interchangeably.
For my own sanity (and for the sake of the system I personally use for planning out my own life), I draw a hard, pragmatic line between the two.
- Core Values are the nouns. These point to the absolute core of what a person finds most important in their life. They are the bedrock concepts. (See: My core values)
- Principles are the rules. These are the “if this, then that” algorithms of life. Think of them like laws of nature or highway guardrails. If values dictate what you care about, principles are the operational rules to be followed in order to ensure you don’t drive your life into a ditch. They ensure that the day-to-day actions stay aligned with your core values. (See: my principles)
To put it simply: values define the destination, and principles are the rules of the road.