The 6 Principles Running Your Life—Whether You Know It or Not

We don’t live by chance. We live by principles.

In Ep. 222 | The 6 Principles Running Your Life—Whether You Know It or Not, Nick Surface and Garrett Unclebach dive deep into the unseen forces shaping every decision, response, and outcome in your life. Drawing from decades of military precision, biblical truth, and strategic thinking, they expose six foundational principles—whether you recognize them or not—and show how to align your life around them so that purpose follows you, not slips by.

“Principles are like gravity. You can’t override them by wishing harder.” — Garrett Unclebach

What Is a Principle—and Why It Matters

Nick starts by defining principles as non-negotiable laws that govern personal growth and fruitfulness. They aren’t suggestions or shortcuts—they’re frameworks that shape your reality. The hosts warn that confusion between tactics and principles is common—tactics change daily, but principles hold steady.

“If you ask ‘What should I do?’ you’ll always be one tactic away from failure. But if you ask ‘What principle is at work here?’ you’ll build systems that last.” — Nick Surface

Misalign with principles, and you end up stuck—no matter how hard you try.

Principle 1: Honor — Value Determines Flow

Honor is more than respect—it’s about what you choose to value. Whatever you honor controls your time, passion, and loyalty.

• “Your priorities reflect what you actually worship,” Garrett warns.

• Nick adds: “If you want change, stop complaining—and start realigning what you’re honoring.”

When honor is misdirected—to comfort, people-pleasing, or materialism—your life flows toward compromise.

Principle 2: Trust — The Foundation of Leadership

Next, they tackle trust. Whether it’s in a marriage, workplace, or spiritual walk, trust—or its absence—determines momentum.

Garrett shares a powerful insight from SEAL training:

“If you lose trust once, the team starts making excuses for your mistakes.”

Nick unpacks the way trust—or the lack of it—shapes everything from how others receive your leadership to how God uses you.

Principle 3: Excellence — Doing It Right, Especially When It’s Delayed

“Excellence always pays—but never immediately,” Garrett reveals. He recounts early podcast days when nobody listened—and why giving anything less than your best ruins momentum.

• “It isn’t perfectionism—it’s intentionality,” Nick clarifies.

• Excellence shows you believe what you’re building is worth lasting.

It builds your credibility, refines your craft, and honors God.

Principle 4: Focus — Direction Creates Fruit

Your focus determines your direction. Garrett explains:

“Information is noise—focus is clarity. The world is loud. You must choose the frequency you want to tune into.”

Nick adds that direction matters more than activity: you can be busy and broken, or focused and fruitful.

Principle 5: Discipline — Bridge Between Ideas and Results

Discipline isn’t restriction—it’s a bridge.
Nick emphasizes: “Without it, desire stays in your head.”

They discuss how discipline is the consistent daily choice that transforms intentions into identity—and how small decisions add up to destiny.

Principle 6: Leadership — Influence Builds on Character

True leadership isn't defined by title—it’s defined by influence earned through character and consistency.

Garrett highlights:

“People listen when they see you do what you say.”

Nick adds that leadership reflects spiritual maturity: guarding your heart, your words, and your habits.

How to Align Your Life With Principles

Toward the end, they shift from theory to application. Here’s their checklist:

1. Identify misaligned life areas — Where are you failing honor, trust, focus, or discipline?

2. Repeat truth over time — Walk through each principle with prayer, confession, and planning.

3. Track simple wins — Improvements compound faster than setbacks.

4. Adjust tactics, not abandon principles — When you fall short, don’t ditch the principle—rebalance your systems.

“Nobody drifts into greatness. You either design your life—or life will design you.” — Garrett Unclebach

Final Thoughts: Let Principles Be Your GPS

In a world filled with trends and hacks, Nick and Garrett remind us of timeless, unchanging laws. Principles aren’t distractions—they’re the highway under the hood of your purpose.

• Honor attracts blessing

• Trust builds relationships

• Excellence demonstrates worth

• Focus redefines activity

• Discipline bridges dreams and reality

• Leadership earns authority

“Get these six aligned—and you’ll start noticing the world bending toward your obedience.” — The Impossible Life Podcast

This might be one of the most important episodes yet—because it equips you to live on purpose, not by accident.