Honor is one of the three guiding principles in every story we tell at Sherwood Media. My hope is that after reading this, you’ll see honor with fresh perspective in a way that brings joy, connection, and meaning.

What Honor Is Not

I wrote nearly this entire blog post, then out of sheer curiosity, asked ChatGPT what it thought about honor.

It said:

“Overemphasis on honor can breed paranoia, aggression, and mental-health issues.”

Interesting.

Based on where my head has been for the past several years regarding honor, this was not what I was expecting.

But I get it. Dictators demand honor. Some cultures still practice honor-killing. Sometimes people misuse “honor” as a mask for insecurity.

That version of honor is harsh and destructive.

I don’t believe this has to be our framework for honor.

The Kind of Honor We Need

The honor I’ve experienced has been:

Freely given, not demanded
Emotional, beautiful, and significant.
Connected to truth and love.

This kind of honor happens when we share our stories and create space for others to share theirs.

At networking events or on camera, I love watching people make the courageous choice to share vulnerably.

When you admit a fear of rejection.
When you share a need that feels like a lot right now.
When you stop pretending to have it all together.

We can honor that courage by engaging, serving, and sharing vulnerably ourselves.

That’s when real, meaningful connection happens.

That’s where joy enters in.

Honor Requires Humility

Disney’s “Mulan” after she defeats the enemy and saves the Chinese Empire.

What I love about honor is that it always comes from humility.

Someone with a massive ego or even lots of insecurities can’t do this well.

I’ll never get tired of watching the Disney film “Mulan.”

In the story, Mulan disgraces her father and is looking for a way to redeem herself and her family.

She decides to take her father’s place in the war, and at the end of the movie, she succeeds to the point that the whole nation honors her. YES!

All the men in charge who had belittled her, not trusted her, realized the gift she had been to them all along, and they humbled themselves to honor her. And it was about time!

Honor Requires Presence

I didn’t take a picture of the moment, but this is an accurate depiction.

Honor also requires presence, being fully invested in a moment, and the desire to see someone else, and really let them know how you see them.

I was sitting at my son’s soccer game last week and every single parent, sibling, relative was on a device.

I was shocked and so sad.

They were there, but they were checked out.

Did that honor the boys playing on the field? Did it honor the connection between them and their players?

I imagined playing soccer when I was a kid. Parents on the sidelines cheered. They were engaged in the game. Sometimes they yelled too loudly or said crude things.

But at least they were present.

Honor Requires Decisive Action

Amy Poehler and the other Emmy nominess agreed to join each other on stage and celebrate everyone, including the winner, together.

Honor requires decisive action. Putting down the phone, listening first, showing up on time, and valuing the people around you.

I loved the video of Amy Poehler bringing together women in the entertainment industry to support each other on stage at the Emmy’s, demonstrating sisterhood and connection.

That decision to break the script, honor each one of the nominees on stage, holding hands together, represented the beauty and connection that honor can bring.