Back when I worked my first job in financial services, the company made sure that employees understood the company values. I was so embedded in the company that I thought those were my values, too.

Luckily for me, my lovely wife Trish challenged me as to whether those were really my values. I took some time to think about it, then realized there are three things that I value most.

Integrity – honesty builds trust and dishonesty destroys it. Sometimes it is difficult to be honest, but it is always worth it in the end. If you are dishonest with yourself or others, how can you trust anyone else to be honest with you?

I remember one time when Trish and I had some sort of disagreement, and later that day she asked me if I was still mad. Unexpectedly, I said, “Yes!” – we both laughed and the tension was gone.

Adaptability – we can overcome almost anything that comes our way. In some cases, we change what we do or how we do it. In other cases, we come up with new ideas that might not have occurred to us without the adversity. When Trish and I moved back to the US, we decided to live near the mountains which promised an amazing lifestyle without the crowds of the city. The downside is finding new clients for my Applied Movement Neurology practise.

Seeing my challenges, my sister Andrea invited me up to Colebrook saying that people up there wanted to book me for sessions. I was skeptical at first, but I have since done 8 trips and have helped more than a dozen people. Surprisingly, it has been the best thing I have done to develop my practice.

Personal responsibility – choose how we act and recognize that we choose how we react. Own our mistakes and our successes, accept compliments graciously. When I was first commuting to Boston by car (my choice for a more flexible schedule), I had too many incidents of road rage or annoyance, “I can’t let them in, I need to get there first!”

When I realised that one more car in front of me would not make much of a difference, commuting became fairly relaxing, even in rush hour traffic. To make it even better, I chose a slightly longer route, driving by the beach at the start and end of each day. Seeing the ocean was my personal meditation.

Take some time to think about what is really important to you. Are those things reflected in your actions?