Life’s most profound truths often emerge from simple moments. These ten principles, born from real experiences and unexpected turns, guided my journey from a young dreamer in Lima, Perú, to a missionary in Wilmington, and later to someone trying to make a difference through community leadership and social entrepreneurship. Through them, I discovered how a simple prayer could lead to unexpected opportunities, how strategic planning could take me across continents, and how caring deeply about others’ dignity could shape a life of meaningful service. These are the ten principles that became my compass, each one discovered through moments of challenge, reflection, and growth. I included a resource in each so you can make them your own:
- The Choice of Faith: My first lesson came through a simple, almost childlike prayer about a missed test. What followed wasn’t just a canceled class – it was the beginning of understanding that we’re never truly alone. The “7-Day Dialog Challenge” invites you to spend 5 minutes daily speaking openly, starting with “If you’re there…” Share hopes, doubts, gratitude, and notice what unfolds in your life.
- Your Personal Strategic Plan: Dreams need a map to become reality. I discovered this in my first attempt at writing a personal strategic plan: with empty pockets but a heart full of dreams in Lima, I wrote down my desire to experience other parts of the world and meet people from different cultures. At the time, it seemed impossible – I had no means, no connections, and no clear path. Yet within a year, that openness to possibility led me to India of all places, where I found myself standing before the Taj Mahal, surrounded by friends from different nations. Writing goals in a state of hope and faith unleashes possibilities we can’t even imagine. Use intentional planning to transform dreams into reality. Quick Year Review: What were your peak moments of alignment and greatest value disconnects? Then envision your future: What would make your heart sing? What opportunities align now? Create three specific goals with dates, identify first steps, and build your support system.
- Break Free from Your Ego’s Universe: The most profound shift in my life came when I truly saw beyond myself through a practice I learned in Japan. The “Naikan” reflection questions – What have I received from others? What have I given back? What difficulties have I caused? – led me to a humbling realization: I was just one small part of an interconnected web of relationships and moments. When you authentically step outside your ego’s universe, even for a moment, you begin to see life’s true dimensions. Starting with just one relationship, ask these three simple questions daily and watch how your perspective transforms – suddenly, you’re not the center of the story anymore, and that’s when real wisdom begins.
- Be the Lotus: Untouched by the Mud: Like a lotus rising through murky waters, let criticism be the soil for your growth rather than the mud that stains you. When I began making changes in the community, I learned a vital truth: meaningful change inevitably creates disruption, and disruption makes people comfortable with the status quo uncomfortable. Their discomfort often emerges as criticism or opposition. The key isn’t to fight the mud but to learn what to absorb and what to let flow past you. Ask yourself: Is this criticism about my path or their comfort with the familiar? Their understanding or their assumptions? Does this feedback align with my values? Is it serving my mission? Am I growing or hiding? Use what nourishes your roots and let the rest wash away – just as the lotus transforms what it needs from the mud into beauty.
- Beyond “Good Enough”: Sometimes the hardest person to be honest with is yourself. I remember sitting with my “perfectly fine” life – a good job, a comfortable relationship – hearing that quiet voice asking for more. Something was calling me to serve others more deeply, but I kept dismissing it because everything was “good enough.” Finally, I found the courage to listen: I ended the relationship, left my job, and became a missionary to serve people in need. What seemed like a risky departure from “good enough” led me to discover what “extraordinary” feels like – including meeting my now wife and experiencing a depth of love I hadn’t known was possible. The lesson? Listen to that persistent whisper. Ask yourself: What am I pretending not to hear? What dream keeps returning? What would courage do today? What’s the price of staying in your “good enough” life?
- Mortality as Motivator: It’s strange how understanding life’s finite nature doesn’t make it darker – it makes each moment shine brighter. When I hear older people talk about missing their parents and wishing they had spent more time with them, it awakens me to treasure every moment I still have with mine. When parents of grown children tell me how they miss the chaos of young kids at home, it makes me appreciate my three daughters’ loud presence even more. This awareness isn’t about fear – it’s about living fully and prioritizing what matters before it’s gone. Everything precious comes with an expiration date – our parents’ presence, our children’s phases, our body’s abilities, historic opportunities to make a difference. Don’t wait until your 80-year-old self begs you to recall these moments. Ask yourself daily: What’s fleeting right now? Who needs my presence? What joy am I postponing? What memories am I choosing not to create today?
- Purpose Through Caring: Every significant turn in my path began with a heartache for others that I couldn’t ignore. When I saw families trapped in cycles of poverty and children lacking opportunities, I became a missionary. When I witnessed immigrant families struggling to build a new life, I became a social entrepreneur. When I felt the pain of newcomers trying to navigate an unfamiliar system without support, I helped start organizations to serve them. Your purpose often hides in plain sight – in the problems that keep you awake at night, in the injustices that make your heart ache, in the needs that you can’t walk away from. It’s about those moments when you feel an inexplicable pull to help, when you can’t stop thinking about a problem until you do something about it. To find your path, ask: What situations make your heart heavy with the need to help? Which problems do you find yourself thinking about even when they don’t affect you directly? Where do your unique gifts meet the needs you see around you? Pay attention to these heart signals – they’re not just emotions, they’re signposts guiding you toward your life’s most meaningful work.
- Start with Dignity: The Root of All Values: My understanding of human dignity began at home, where my parents treated me not as a child to be controlled, but as a person to be respected. They listened to my opinions, honored my choices, and gave me freedom while ensuring my safety. This profound respect they showed me planted a deep awareness: if I am worthy of such dignity, then every human being carries that same inherent worth. This seed of understanding later blossomed at Neumann University, where Franciscan spirituality deepened my grasp of human dignity as the foundation of all values. When you truly recognize the worth in every person, other virtues flow naturally: Integrity emerges from respecting your own dignity, Kindness from honoring others’ worth, Justice from defending the dignity of all, Courage from standing up for human worth, and Service from helping others recognize their inherent value. Each day offers us opportunities to practice this awareness of dignity. Start by noticing one person whose worth might be overlooked in your daily interactions. Take one conscious action that honors someone’s dignity – perhaps through listening deeply or showing genuine respect. And remember to honor your own dignity too, because how we treat ourselves sets the tone for how we value others. These simple practices remind us that every interaction is an opportunity to affirm or diminish human dignity.
- Practice Losing to Find Gratitude: Living across four different countries has taught me an unexpected lesson about joy. Each transition meant “losing” people, places, and experiences I cherished. Yet these losses became my greatest teachers of gratitude. When you’ve experienced saying goodbye to friends not knowing when you’ll see them again, a simple reunion becomes a celebration. When you’ve lived without the familiar comforts of home, returning to them fills you with renewed appreciation. These experiences taught me that sometimes we need to lose – or imagine losing – something to fully grasp its value. This wisdom can be practiced daily. Start by choosing one blessing in your life and imagine its absence for three days. Notice how this awareness changes you. When you return to it, you’ll find that ordinary moments – a parent’s voice, a child’s laughter, even your morning coffee – take on extraordinary meaning. Ask yourself: “If this was the last time, would I experience it differently?” This isn’t about living in fear of loss, but about living with the kind of awareness that transforms everyday moments into treasures
- The Power of Pause: My biggest mistakes have invariably come from reacting when rushed, fatigued, or stressed. As a psychotherapist, I’ve seen how words spoken or actions taken in a moment of negative emotion can create deep wounds in people’s lives that last far longer than the emotion itself. Yet I’ve also seen how a simple pause can prevent these moments of regret. Think of life as a dance rather than a battle. When we’re tired, triggered, or time-pressured, we can step back, take three conscious breaths – first noticing any tension in our body, then clearing our mental noise, and finally choosing a wise response. Simple phrases like “Let me honor this with my full attention” or “Give me a moment to think clearly” create the space we need to respond from wisdom rather than reaction. This practice isn’t about slowing down your life – it’s about moving through it with more grace. It’s in these small moments of pause that we find the power to transform potential conflict into connection, rushed decisions into wise choices.
These practices aren’t secrets to success – they’re invitations to live more intentionally. I share them as a fellow traveler who found some helpful signposts along the way, hoping they can be starting points for your own journey of discovery and service.
Dr. Ronaldo Tello, Founder/President & CEO, Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
