Honor Part 3

Welcome back.

Find a relaxed position and take a deep breath in.

I’m going to walk you through the tangible practice of honor.

So take another deep breath in, and on the exhale think about your day so far.

Think of a moment today where you exceeded expectations.

Hold that moment in your mind.

And think about the specific actions you did that exceeded expectations.

Think about what you did.

Okay, now this is great to reflect and identify actions you took that you’re proud of.

But that’s not honoring self … yet.

Honoring self identifies WHO you were in those moments that DROVE what you did.

So get creative and curious with words that can describe character traits of yourself in that moment.

Take a few moments to find the words that describe your character that empowered that action.

Now shift your attention to a moment where you fell short of your own expectations.

See that moment clearly, hold it gently in your mind by identifying your actions.

WHAT you did.

Now, the reason you’re not proud of yourself in that moment is because you didn’t take action according to WHO you are, according to your character.

So, remind yourself, who you are by finishing this sentence to yourself,

“Hey, this isn’t our way. remember? Our way is this …”

[take a moment here]

Now turn your attention to someone else in your day.

Someone who didn’t meet your expectations today.

See their specific action (what they did that didn't meet your expectations) but don’t dwell there.

Instead look deeper - what unique value does this person bring to your life, to the world.

We can still address the missed expectation, but what we’re practicing right now is to first honor them in our mind.

Finally, bring to mind someone who exceeded your expectations today.

What did they do that stood out?

More importantly, what qualities of their character made this possible?

Take a moment to appreciate both their actions and who they are.

You’ve just practiced honor.

This is the art of honor – seeing beyond actions to the core of who people are, starting with yourself.

It's recognizing that we are all more than our best or worst moments.

It's holding space for growth while acknowledging the inherent value in each of us.

As you return to your day, carry this practice with you.

Remember to honor both the strengths and growth areas in yourself and others.

This is how we build cultures of true honor.