What is the term that gives substance to one's personal and professional self?

The term that gives substance to one's personal and professional self is best understood as values. Values represent an individual's core beliefs and guiding principles that shape their behavior, decisions, and overall worldview. They are deeply held ideas about what is important in life and can influence how a person interacts with others and approaches various situations, both personally and professionally.

Values serve as a foundation for one’s actions and attitudes, providing a sense of direction and purpose. They encompass elements such as honesty, integrity, respect, and compassion, which can significantly impact one’s interactions in the workplace and personal life.

While ethics, beliefs, and principles are related concepts, they do not capture the full essence that values represent in shaping an individual's identity and moral compass. Ethics often refer to the standards and rules guiding behavior in a professional context, beliefs refer to accepted truths or convictions, and principles are the fundamental truths that guide conduct. However, values combine all these aspects and create a more comprehensive representation of a person's character.