The Value of Values
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ― Gandhi
Have you ever considered your values? For our purposes, let’s define values as your “principles or standards of behavior; your judgment of what is important in life.”
Your values significantly influence how you see the world as well as what you do and don’t do. Values control which decisions you make or don’t make.
When something or someone conflicts with a value you hold strongly, it can create enormous stress inside you. In other words, your values can drive your behaviors, and therefore, at least in part, contribute to your actions and the outcomes or results you obtain in life.
The better you understand what is important to you, and the influence of your values, the greater will be the opportunity to live true to yourself, with more authenticity.
Let’s pause for a few minutes and do a quick check on your values. Following this article is a personal values exercise from my book, Uncommon Sense. I use this exercise regularly in my leadership/executive coaching work. The exercise will help you better define what you value. Once you’ve completed a fundamental appraisal of your values, you’ll be able to better understand yourself.
There are no right or wrong answers. Just choose those values that seem most true to who you believe you are inside, and don’t consider what you think someone else might say.
Give yourself some time to think about the top five that most resonated with you. The purpose of this exercise is to see into yourself, into who you are and what drives you and your priorities. Completing the exercise will help you better understand your needs.
To get the most out of the exercise, be sure to answer each of the questions at the end. Give some thought to each, as the answers can considerably open your mind about who you really are at this time and what you seek most in life.
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©2020 Bill Abbate
Adapted from the book Uncommon Sense by Bill Abbate www.billabbate.com
