New beginnings start the journey but determination keeps it going. Learn how values-based commitment helps you stay aligned without burnout or pressure.
Welcome to this edition of the Weekly Compass, where we spend some time talking about a single value and look at how it can guide our everyday decisions and actions. If you’re not familiar with the format, please review the Weekly Compass Leader Guide to learn how to use this post as a discussion guide.
Our focus this week is Determination. Together, we’ll explore what it means to stay committed to something we’ve chosen. Not because it’s easy, exciting, or new, but because it matters. Determination is what carries a new beginning forward once the novelty wears off and real life shows up. It’s the steady decision to keep moving in the direction of the future self we imagined last week.
Determination grows out of our Foundational Values, especially curiosity, integrity, and fairness. Curiosity invites us to begin. Integrity reminds us why we chose this path. Fairness helps us set expectations that are realistic and humane. Together, these values turn determination into something sustainable. It’s not stubbornness, not “grind culture”, and not “pushing through” at all costs. It’s a thoughtful commitment to becoming who we said we wanted to be.
If you’re ready, let’s dive in!
Key Objectives
By the end of this discussion, participants should:
Understand determination as sustained commitment, not raw toughness.
Distinguish determination from resilience, and recognize when each is needed.
See how determination is rooted in Foundational Values rather than willpower alone.
Recommit to a chosen goal or practice with clarity and intention.
Why These Objectives Matter
It’s easy to confuse determination with being unbreakable; or worse, with never changing your mind. But real determination isn’t about ignoring reality or pushing until burnout. These objectives matter because they help us see determination as something grounded in values, not ego. When we know why we’re committed, we’re better equipped to stay the course thoughtfully, or to adjust our course when fairness or integrity demand it.
They also matter because determination often shows up after our motivation fades. Motivation is loud and exciting; determination is quieter and more practical. Motivation asks, “Do I still feel inspired?” Determination asks, “What’s the next right step?” By clarifying what determination is (and what it isn’t) we give ourselves tools to keep going without punishing ourselves.
Opening Reflection
Paragraph 1: Starting something new can feel exciting and energizing. There’s a sense of possibility, of turning a corner or opening a door. But after the first few steps, that excitement often fades. Determination is what helps us keep going when progress feels slower, quieter, or harder to notice.
Paragraph 2 (Option 1; Child-Friendly): Determination shows up when we keep practicing even after mistakes, when we ask for help instead of giving up, and when we try again tomorrow. Determination is learning that getting better usually takes time. Putting in the effort is really important and valuable, even if we’re not completely successful at first.
Paragraph 2 (Option 2; Adult-Oriented): Determination is the choice to stay aligned with something we said mattered, even when our motivation dips or life gets complicated. It isn’t about pushing through at all costs or ignoring exhaustion. Determination grows out of our Foundational Values, especially curiosity, integrity, and fairness. Curiosity reminds us why we started. Integrity keeps us honest about our commitments. Fairness helps us set expectations that are challenging but humane. Together, that adds up to determination.
Paragraph 3: It’s also important to distinguish determination from resilience. Determination is about continuing forward on purpose. Resilience is about recovering when things knock us down. We need both, but they serve different moments. Determination keeps us moving; resilience helps us get back up.
Discussion Questions
Last week, we talked about “new beginnings” and imagined the future selves we’re moving toward. This week, we’re focusing on what happens after that first step, specifically when excitement fades and commitment takes over. As we talk about determination, remember this isn’t about being perfect or never struggling. It’s about choosing to continue with intention and fairness, even when things get difficult.
Younger Children
Q1: What’s something you kept trying even when it was hard?
Q2: How did it feel when you didn’t give up?
Q3: Who helps you stay determined?
Teens/College Students
Q1: What’s the difference between quitting too soon and knowing when to adjust?
Q2: How can determination exist without turning into pressure or burnout?
Q3: Where have you seen determination modeled well or poorly?
Adults/General Audience
Q1: When has determination helped you grow?
Q2: When has determination crossed into stubbornness or self-neglect?
Q3: How do your values help you decide what’s worth staying committed to?
Take Action!
Introduction to the Challenge:
Talking about determination is useful but practicing it is where growth happens. Determination doesn’t mean doing more or pushing harder. It means continuing with purpose and honesty.
Weekly Challenge (Child-Oriented):
Keep practicing the new thing you started last week. Determination is what helps you continue doing the important thing that you identified for your “new beginnings” challenge.
Pay attention to what’s getting easier and where you might need help. If you decided on something last week but didn’t actually do it, then now is the time to use determination to begin doing it. If it’s important, then decide to do it this week!
Weekly Challenge (Adult-Oriented):
Continue the future-self action you chose last week. (You did do it, right?)
Ask yourself: What does staying committed (but fair) look like for me this week?
Make one small adjustment, if needed, that helps you keep going sustainably.
Closing Thoughts
“Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.”
– Denis Waitley
Determination isn’t about being unbreakable or never changing your plan. It’s about choosing to keep moving in a direction that reflects your values, again and again, with patience and honesty. As you go through the coming week, remember: you don’t need to feel motivated to be determined. You just need to choose the next right step.
The distinction between determination and resilince is underrated. Most people conflate them, but calling out that one is forward motion and the other is recovery creates a cleaner mental model. When I was coaching startup founders, this exact confusion would lead them to burn out thinking they needed more determination when they actualy needed resilience first.