Determination — Meaning, Definition, and How This Core Value Shapes Your Life
What Is Determination as a Core Value?
Determination is sustained forward drive despite friction or setback. People high in Determination persist through plateaus that derail others.
Why Determination Matters
Honoring Determination helps you:
- finish long arc goals,
- build resilience under repeated failure,
- convert adversity into progress data,
- outlast wavering competition.
How Determination Shows Up (High vs. Low Expression)
High Expression
- continues effort after early rejections,
- reframes obstacles tactically,
- tracks incremental gains,
- protects focus windows fiercely.
Low Expression
- gives up after initial resistance,
- interprets setbacks as final,
- abandons goals without iteration,
- shifts priorities haphazardly.
Common Challenges of High Determination
- ignoring changing conditions,
- overextension and fatigue,
- tunnel vision excluding new info,
- stubborn attachment to outdated goals.
Determination in Conflict With Other Values
Determination vs. Freedom
Freedom shifts direction with emerging interests; Determination stays locked onto prior chosen targets.
Tension: adaptive pivot vs. steadfast trajectory.
Determination vs. Inner-Harmony
Inner-Harmony preserves balance and emotional ease; Determination tolerates stress and push.
Tension: balanced wellbeing vs. strenuous pursuit.
Examples of Determination in Daily Life
- Iterating after multiple product test failures.
- Training consistently through performance plateaus.
- Re-engaging a declined proposal with improvements.
- Tracking small gains instead of quitting.