The Four Pillars
These are the core values upon which The Memento Mori Project is built. Without them, the project wouldn’t exist.
Think of them as the concrete foundation for a house. Yes, you can pack the dirt all you want. You can frame the house, run electrical, plumb, finish, furnish, and live in it. But without a solid foundation, it’s prone to failure, and it’s just a matter of time. The consequences could be catastrophic. Don’t let that be you. Build a solid foundation and you’ll have nowhere to go but up.
Integrity
in·teg·ri·ty
noun
- firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values
Integrity is a core value that is commonly referred to as doing the right thing when nobody is looking. But it’s also doing the right thing when everyone is looking. Think about a time on a grade school playground when one individual is being bullied by the group you’re in. Integrity is having the wherewithal to not join in and take a stance and do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular.
Discipline
dis·ci·pline
noun
- control gained by enforcing obedience or order
- orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior
- self-control
Discipline is your personal level of self-control. It’s what pulls you towards the things you know you must do, even if they aren’t the things you want to do. Discipline will get you to where you want to be. It will always be there, even when the motivation isn’t. And yes, it can be developed.
Resilience
re·sil·ience
noun
- the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
- an ability to recover or adjust easily to misfortune or change
Resilience is your ability to look ahead, even when things aren’t going your way. You should always strive to have the ability to bounce back. You get knocked down; you get back up again.
Humility
hu·mil·i·ty
noun
- freedom from pride or arrogance
- the quality or state of being humble
Humility is the result of keeping yourself honest. A humble person doesn’t arbitrarily tout their achievements or point out the failures of others. To be truly humble is to let your actions speak for themselves; to give someone assistance without degrading them; to put the pride aside in favor of taking the high road.