Every moment of every day, whether you realize it or not, you are making a decision of how to spend your time, what to pay attention to, where to direct your energy.
Your values form the foundation of your life. They dictate the choices you make and determine the direction that your life takes. Your values influence your decisions related to your relationships, career, and other activities you engage in. Yet despite their importance, few people choose their values. Instead, they simply adopt the values of their parents and the dominant values of society. Sometimes, these values may also have created a life that is carrying you down a path that is not the direction you want to go.
“When values are clear, decisions are easy”
Roy Disney had a saying which helped guide him when came the time to make important decisions in one’s life and that was, “when values are clear, decisions are easy.” All of us in our lifetimes are going to have to make some important decisions. What those decisions are, will vary for each person, but the point behind that message is those decisions are the ones that are going to steer and shape your life, your experiences, and the person you become. Some of those might be whether you decide to get married and have a family and with whom, or which career path to follow. Maybe even whether to become an entrepreneur. When it comes to the decisions in life then ask yourself: “Am I making this decision based on my core values? That is the thought process that should occur when making decisions in your life.
What are your values?
Before you can figure out if you are making a decision based on your selected values, you have to figure out what your core values are as a person. Not sure what your values are? You’re not alone. Many people go through life without ever digging deep to figure out what is meaningful and impactful to them. This is one of the reasons why people lose track of what truly matters. We never find out why we are the way we are and end up pursuing someone else’s idea of success. Your values are the principles you live by, what is important to you in life. they are the standards that you set for yourself. To value something means to place importance in this thing, it is anything you hold dear. You want to ask yourself. what do my values need to be in order to achieve the destiny I desire and deserve? E.g., Passion, love, success, freedom, health, happiness, honesty, gratefulness, creativity.
- After identifying what your values are then you want to ask yourself: Are they my own selected values or are they values I have with me from e.g., my childhood?
- You update the list if needed to be your own selected values.
- Then you discover from the list which of these emotions you value most. In order of importance and you rank your value list.
- Then you want to ask yourself, “Are the decisions I’m making in alignment with those values?” and if the answer is no, then obviously you have a conflict. If the answer is yes, then the decision-making process is easier if you follow through on your values.
Imbalance or disconnected from your values
I believe values are important to give our lives meaning and purpose. If we stray too far from these it can cause a real imbalance because we are not being true to who we really are. If you are struggling, suffering from stress, a feeling of unhappiness, demotivation, or dissatisfaction, then you may be disconnected from your values.
Work through the areas of your life that are imbalanced or disconnected from your values to get back on track.
Now, the action or sacrifice that your decision may require might be difficult at times, but deep down you should have the feeling of knowing that it is the right decision because you were in alignment with your values. And in the end of the day your decisions shape your life.
Some of the most successful people in the world are individuals who understand what they stand for and what their values are.
Start prioritising things that truly matter to you! Start living the life you truly want!
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Yours in success and happiness,
Helene