If one decides to engage in a personal development and refinement journey, it is vitally important to have criteria for how one will deal with the culture. Consider the following aphorism: "Fine feeds coarse and coarse destroys fine," otherwise known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
It is important to note that this is one of the few processes in creation (or physics) that is unidirectional. That is to say, most processes and equations in physics have an inverse function, whereas the second law of thermodynamics does not.
For example, an ice cube dropped into a hot cup of coffee will always result in the ice cube melting and never result in the coffee freezing. Likewise, when dealing with coarseness, one will always walk away from the engagement significantly less refined while having only ever-so-slightly made the coarse more refined.
It is also important to realize that we are dealing with two varieties of coarseness - that which is within and that which is without. So, one must consider such questions as "what in me is coarse?" "Are my thoughts coarse?" "Are my actions coarse?" and, most importantly, how the "culture" in oneself detracts from one's refinement.
Then there is the matter of what we come into external contact with, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Do you enjoy violent movies? Do you seek coarse friendships? Do you like to engage in gossip? etc...
Do Not Deal
The instruction for retaining their refinement is simple: "If you cannot remain unaffected, do not deal." And the fact of the matter is that one cannot deal with coarseness and not be affected. Yet, this is easier said than done because we do not live in a monastery wherein we can shield ourselves from all of the coarse outside influences that bombard us daily. You may have already concluded that The Tradition cannot be practiced in a monastic environment. It is designed to be practiced amid the life one finds oneself in. Thus it is essential to introduce technologies into your daily practice that create a monastic (or insulated) environment within you.
Will-have and Won't-have Areas
One simply cannot effectively engage in a personal development and refinement journey without clearly understanding one's values and standards of dealing. We are not speaking of morality - which is imposed from the outside, but instead of values and standards, which are self-imposed.
Understand now the difference between 'values' and 'standards,' for although they are quite different, our society tends to mix their meanings. A value is something you hold in high regard, whereas a standard is a line you will not go below (no matter what). For instance, one may value human life but not hold a standard that would prevent them from taking a life if it meant saving their own life or the life of another. Furthermore, values must be borne out of one's actions, whereas standards are held by resolute inaction.
To illustrate further, it is of no use to hold a value such as "I value the possibility of conscious evolution in all beings who are engaged in the human experience." without actually doing something to assist others in their conscious evolution; otherwise, it's just wishful thinking.
Similarly, one cannot say, "I stand against sexual assault," while one constantly objectifies and 'undresses' others with their mind. So to reiterate, values imply complete action in support of that which one values and standards imply complete abstinence of action toward that which one stands against.
Those who have been actively engaged in these works may see that we are discussing The Law of Three, wherein one's values are positive (+), one's standards are negative (-), and one's principles are the neutralizing vector (n) for, they either grow or diminish following the strength of the other two.
When approaching this topic with reason, one must conclude that if one chooses to be on a personal development journey - the first value one must engender is the support of anything that causes one to grow. The first standard one must maintain is a stance against anything that causes one to diminish.
If you do not hold these as the first principle of your endeavor, you are wasting your time and are only fantasizing about personal development.
Principles
The adoption of values and standards into one's life engenders the principles by which one lives. When dealing with the culture and coarseness in general, one's principles, if well established, are the 'guardians of the gate' to one's internal monastery. If they are genuine and not based on wishful thinking, they will not allow that which is coarser to enter into oneself and diminish one's refinement.
While it's not possible to imagine every coarse situation one may encounter in life, it is possible to re-evaluate one's principles in response to such encounters. Thus, the required modification of one's principles is also a part of one's refinement process.
Principled Reasoning
Of course, it is impossible to have principled reasoning without first having principles, and here's how to begin to assess your values and standards practically:
It is beneficial to constantly question oneself about the values and standards involved in one's activities. For example, why do you clean your house? What are the values (+) and standards (-) involved in your principled reasons (n) for doing so?
Consider the following chart, which exemplifies the various Principled Reasons for a simple activity such as cleaning the house, based on higher and lower values and standards:

The discipline of constantly addressing one's values and standards should become a part of your daily personal religious process. And, of course, ATTITUDE plays a vital role in this.
Many respects,
Pierce!