On December 5th, 2013 Mr. Mandela passed away. I found myself thinking about how his life clearly reflects a values-based life. His actions were consistent with his personal values even though he was attacked, insulted, arrested, and persecuted multiple times.

Over the years as a psychologist, I have witnessed multiple times the difference between modifying our behaviors because we have been told so versus executing behavioral change simply because it matters. Standing up for what matters it’s not an easy task, and in fact, it comes with a lot of struggle, fears, and anxieties, but the alternative to it is to live a life without meaning, a dead road in my opinion.

Mr. Mandela has left us with a tremendous legacy:

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” 
                                                                           Nelson Mandela.

Written by:

Patricia E. Zurita Ona, Psy.D. is a psychologist at the East Bay Behavior Therapy Center. Dr. Zurita Ona can be contacted at ebbehaviortherapycenter@gmail.com.