Your Values: Your Built-in Compass
Sheri here –
Is being uncomfortable always a bad thing? Last week, in my blog, I discussed how to venture outside your comfort zone, and get comfortable being uncomfortable. If you missed it, see it here.
But what has also occurred to me is that sometimes we are uncomfortable because we are out of integrity with our values – in our personal life and or business. You might ask:
- What are values?
- What difference does it make?
Get Back to the Basics
Webster-Dictionary.org defines values as “beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something).” When you are feeling lost I am a big believer in getting back to the basics – reconnect with what’s most important to you!
Our values are our moral compass. They ground us in giving us a better sense of direction that guides us down the path of life. By helping us set our priorities straight, we are more adapted to handle life’s challenges in a productive way.
Values drive the decisions that align us with our goals. If we are living inconsistent with our values, there’s a discord inside of us that causes us to be uncomfortable until we make the necessary changes.
Our Values Guide Our Decisions
Defining our values is important because they are the roadmap for what motivates us to pursue our dreams. What’s most important in your life? What must you have in your life to experience fulfillment? For me, my top three are 1) my relationship with my spiritual power, my God, 2) my relationships with my family and friends and 3) my health and self-care. Followed by my business.
Your values define you; they represent a part of WHO you are, that shapes WHAT you do. Can others identify your values by your daily behaviors and choices? Birds of a feather flock together. Values help you associate with like-minded people who want to see you succeed because they share in your principles.
How do you devise your values? In reality, you probably already have a pretty strong set of values. Values that were either accepted or rejected from when you grew up, or you created your own.
Our values are usually fairly consistent. The order isn’t necessarily fixed for life because major life events can modify them. Things such as relationship changes, career changes or changes that affect us in a profound way that cause us to re-examine our priorities.
When you are clear on your values, your guiding principles, it becomes easier to make decisions. Our values are correlated directly to the choices we make. Even if some choice in your life could honor one of your values, if it dishonors another (especially one higher in your list of priorities) it still may not be the right choice for you.
For instances, if you have a couple of different opportunities that will take your time, or your energy and one is not consistent with your values, then the decision is clear. It’s a “I don’t think so”.
Our Values Bring Comfort to Our Life
But what if both of them are consistent with your guiding principles? Whichever one is ranks higher, then that becomes the choice. For instance, if you have a business opportunity that conflicts with a major family event and family is more important to you than your business – you’d choose the major family event, right?!
If you didn’t – what would your comfort level be?
You can get uncomfortable when you start making choices that are inconsistent with your values. So, when you are uncomfortable, check in with your values. This is the perfect way to alleviate stress and remind yourself the motivation behind what you do.
When I was talking about being uncomfortable, outside your comfort zone, consider your values as a part of what helps you define your comfort zone.
Okay, so what if you don’t know what your values are or if you need help defining your guiding principles? Hit reply or book a call here.
‘til the next time
Ciao,
Sheri
Ps: If this whole conversation is still foreign to you, and it’s intriguing. But you don’t know where to start? Give me a call just click this link. Let’s talk.
