The Value of Values
Many people I’ve spoken to since the New Year rolled around just seven weeks ago are feeling exhausted, unfocused and worried how they will get through the remaining 45 weeks of the year.
It is not a surprise that people are feeling like this right now; we have lived through two years’ worth of pandemic-related uncertainty and many other unfamiliar and complex challenges. This has resulted in us all having to think more deliberately and consciously which creates a much bigger mental load, whilst our ability to problem solve has slowed.
Whilst it would be handy to have a miracle cure that gives us a sense of ease and grace in this time (and I would love to hear from anyone that did), there is something that I think can help us move forward with more clarity and motivation. This is being clear on our own personal values so that we can live them more every day.
Values are our “highest order goals”, the things that matter most of all to us as individuals, which is why it is important we can identify what they are and are consciously working to fill our life with them. Values are the compass that helps to guide us accurately through life.
When people are asked “what do you want most in the world?”, then if their basic needs are being met, often the answer is “I want to be happy”. But what makes us happy? Well that’s where our values come in, because if we are living in alignment with our values we are likely to feel happy (although importantly I am defining happiness in this context as a long-lasting fulfillment rather than the momentary pleasure we might get for example by eating a delicious treat).
Every other goal we have should be congruent with our values and if they aren't then we can either work to make them more aligned or we can choose new goals.
Signs that you might have lost sight of your values:
- You position material things in the form of things, stuff, job titles and money as your most important goals.
- You achieve goals that you set but the feeling of satisfaction is short-lasting.
- You struggle to find feelings of flow in how you spend your time.
How do you identify what your values are? Brené Brown has a great worksheet; listen to her Unlocking Us podcast to access it. I mean if Brené is talking about values then it has to be important, right?! https://lnkd.in/ew45k8RZ
I also have a Values worksheet that I created and use with my clients but I am happy to share it with you if you'd like clarity on your values because the world would be waaay better if we were all conscious of and working towards what truly mattered to us. Message me if you’d like a copy of my Values worksheet.
My top two values are connection and making a difference, let me know yours!