Welcome to the first part of the Values Guide Exploration Series!
Today we’re going to be looking at a brief introduction to values, specifically what they are and why they are significant in helping you live the life you want to live.
What are Values?
I’m sure you’ve heard the word “values” in your daily life. But what exactly are they?
Values are the guiding principles that shape our thoughts, behaviours, and decisions. They represent what we believe to be fundamentally important in life, acting as a compass directing our actions and choices.
For example, if you believe in fairness, you may be drawn to professions where you can advocate for the underdog like law as a lawyer, advocate or judge.
If freedom is important to you, you won’t typically pursue the job route but would rather become an entrepreneur.
Or perhaps you value community, so you join the local tennis club and have close bonds with people like yourself who enjoy the sport.
No matter the value, its importance is evident by the things you choose to prioritise.
Understanding this important fact may help you understand why you’re more drawn to certain activities than others. It may also help you see how far in alignment you are or aren’t with your values.
At their core, values are the deeply ingrained beliefs that influence how we interact with the world around us. They reflect our unique perspectives, preferences, and priorities, serving as the foundation upon which we build our lives.
You wouldn’t want to build your life on the sand, would you?
Understanding and acknowledging our values is crucial because they play a pivotal role in shaping our:
- Identity: Values contribute to our sense of self and define who we are.
- Decision-Making: They guide our choices and actions in various situations.
- Relationships: Values align us with individuals who share similar beliefs.
- Fulfilment: Living in line with our values leads to a more meaningful life.
Let’s look at each of them in a little more detail:
Identity:
Who you are is made up of what you do.
If you say you’re a writer, we can rightly assume that you write.
Daily at that.
If you’re a businessman, we can rightly assume that you engage in business activities to make a profit.
You get where I’m going with this.
If you want to be identified as having or possessing a certain quality, you must embody that quality.
You must do the things, actions and activities associated with said quality.
If you want to be a kind person, you must be known to be helpful, have a warm and approachable demeanour and help out those in need.
If it doesn’t matter to you, you won’t do it. Simple as that.
What qualities do YOU want to be identified with?
Decision-making:
It’s estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. If you’re like me, I can’t even fathom 100, nevermind 35000 decisions I have to make in a single day.
Nonetheless, it is what it is. Some decisions are small, like whether you want green or chai tea or buying one item over another and others are bigger and can impact the trajectory of your life like getting married or buying a house.
If you know you want to make $5,000 a month from your consulting side hustle, then it means that you’re going to have to consciously say no to many things like going out with family and friends on the weekends or turning down other opportunities that don’t align with your consulting vision. But if you aren’t fully committed to your value of freedom (i.e. building your side hustle to $5,000 a month), you’ll be swayed by all kinds of obstacles and may even give up.
Don’t let that be you.
Figure out your values so you know how best to make decisions in alignment with those values.
Future you will thank you.
Relationships:
Ah, what would life be without a friend or loved one to enjoy the ups and downs of life with?
If you’ve ever had a bad relationship, romantically or otherwise (which I think we all have since we are all human (I hope! ^^,)), then you know how bad it feels. Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it but you just know in your heart of hearts that this relationship is not serving you.
When you are aware of and in alignment with your values, you’ll know who’s not for you and who is.
That is powerful and liberating. If you want to become a millionaire but you’re stuck with broke people who recklessly gamble their lives away, where will you end up?
On the other hand, if you want to become a confident speaker and you hang out with world-class speakers, where will you end up?
You are who you spend time with.
Make each relationship count in furthering your personal and career goals.
Life’s too short to be stuck in bad relationships with people who are nothing like you or where you want to be.
Fulfillment:
Oh to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
You can.
What’s the secret?
Living in line with your values.
More points for doing so unapologetically, with passion, humility and a sense of always growing and seeking to do better in all spheres of life.
If you know what your core values are, you can make sure that the choices you make are in alignment with them. If things don’t match, you cut them out and move towards that which does.
Let’s make this practical, shall we?
Meet Tom. (Hi, Tom👋)
Tom’s top 3 values are Achievement, Fairness and Vigor.
He displays achievement by working hard to acquire new skills and enhance old ones that will help him perform better at work and can be applied to his side hustle too.
He is fair in his dealings with everyone, irrespective of their rank in and out of the office.
He shows vigor by the way he approaches everything in life with strength and a can-do attitude, especially when times are trying and the temptation to quit is strong, but he keeps pushing on because life is energy and the ability to survive and grow.
Should he come across individuals or things that don’t align with these core values, he can move away from them and focus on what will help him stay in alignment with his goals.
Isn’t it amazing just how much our values impact our daily actions?
Takeaway
Identifying and honouring our values is not just an exercise in self-awareness; it’s a pathway to living authentically and intentionally. By recognizing what truly matters to us, we gain clarity and purpose, allowing us to navigate life’s complexities with greater confidence and direction.
This Values Exploration series is designed to help you on your journey of self-discovery. It aims to help you unearth your core values, providing insights that will empower you to align your life with what resonates most deeply within you.
I am thrilled to be embarking on this transformative journey with you.
In the next post, we’ll look at a practical exercise that will help you to identify your core values. See you there!
Did you learn something new about values from this post? Share it with me on LinkedIn or with a friend!
If this post resonated with you, and you’d like to streamline your core value exploration, book a FREE Discovery call with me here: https://calendly.com/lazoliabuzuzi/30min?month=2024-01
