Discovering your values: Make choices that count
As human beings, we are faced with countless choices in our everyday life, ranging from the trivial to the life-changing. Some of these choices are easy to make, while others are intensely challenging. However, regardless of their level of difficulty, the choices we make often shape our lives and have a significant impact on our future.
This is why it is important to make choices that count, ones that are aligned with our values and goals. However, before we can make choices that count, we must first discover our values. In this article, we will delve into the process of discovering your values, and how you can use them as a guide to make choices that count.
The importance of values
Values are often defined as the beliefs and principles that we hold as individuals that determine how we behave and make decisions. They are the fundamental drivers of our goals, motivations, and aspirations. When we are aligned with our values, we feel more fulfilled, satisfied, and purposeful.
Discovering your values is critical because they serve as a compass for making decisions and setting goals. They help us to create a sense of direction and focus in our lives. When we have a clear understanding of our values, we can make choices that resonate with our innermost selves, rather than making decisions based on external pressures or societal norms.
How to discover your values
The process of discovering your values can be broken down into several steps that include self-reflection, observation, and evaluation. When you take the time to deeply explore your innermost self, you’ll find that your values become clearer.
-
Self-reflection
Self-reflection is an important exercise to undertake when discovering your values. It involves taking time to reflect on your past experiences, beliefs, and life goals. Find a quiet, solitary place where you can reflect on the following questions:
- What makes you feel most alive?
- What are your most cherished memories?
- What motivates you?
- What are you passionate about?
- What qualities do you admire in others?
Write down your answers to these questions in a journal or notebook. This will help you to identify patterns and themes that emerge.
-
Observe your actions and behaviors
Pay close attention to the choices you make daily and how they align with your values. Take note of the times when you feel most fulfilled, satisfied, and purposeful. Conversely, observe the times when you feel detached, disconnected, or unfulfilled.
This observation can help you identify the values that are most important to you. For example, if you find that you are most fulfilled when making a difference to others, this indicates that the value of “helping others” is important to you.
-
Evaluate your priorities
Another way to discover your values is to evaluate your priorities. Consider how you spend your time, energy, and resources daily. Ask yourself, what is it that you prioritize and why? For example, do you spend a lot of time pursuing your career or taking care of your family because you value financial security or family?
Evaluating your priorities can reveal the values that are most important to you. You could find that you place a high value on personal growth and development, which is why you prioritize learning new things.
-
Identify your core values
After going through the first three steps, you may start to recognize recurring themes and patterns. These themes and patterns are often indicative of your core values. Core values are the fundamental principles that you stand for, and they underpin all your decisions and actions. They are unique to each individual and reflect who you are at your core.
Examples of core values include:
- Honesty
- Compassion
- Creativity
- Independence
- Fun
- Connection
- Adventure
The above list is by no means exhaustive, and you may have other values that are important in your life. Take the time to identify your core values, write them down, and rank them in order of importance to you.
Making choices that count
Once you have discovered your values, you can begin to use them as a guiding force for making choices that count. Here are some steps you can take to start using your values as a foundation for decision-making.
-
Clarify your goals
Goals help us to move in a specific direction and provide a clear path towards our values. When setting goals, ensure that they align with your values. For example, if your core value is “freedom” and you set a goal to become financially independent, you are aligning your goal with your value.
-
Evaluate choices against your values
Every choice you make has the potential to either honor or compromise your values. When making choices, evaluate them against your values. Ask yourself, does this choice align with my core values? For example, if you value “integrity,” will a particular choice compromise your integrity?
-
Prioritize your values
It is important to prioritize your values and recognize that some values are more important than others. When faced with a difficult decision, consider which value is most important in that situation. For example, if you are considering taking a job that pays more but would compromise your “family” value, you may choose to prioritize your “family” value over financial gain.
-
Practice self-care
Practicing self-care is crucial in ensuring that you are able to make choices that count. Ensure that you take care of your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. This will help you to stay aligned with your values and make better decisions.
Conclusion
Discovering your values is a process that requires time, self-reflection, and observation. However, it is a critical step if you want to make choices that count. When you are aligned with your values, you feel more fulfilled, satisfied, and purposeful. Use your values as a guide to create a sense of direction and focus in your life. Remember to evaluate your priorities, identify your core values, and use them as a foundation for decision-making. When you make choices that are aligned with your values, you are more likely to achieve success and fulfillment in life.