Defining Your Personal Values to Live a Powerful Life
How do you define values? My dictionary defines it as the “importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” If you are not sure how you would define values, this entry will help you with that. Finding your values and how you are currently honoring them is the first step to building self-awareness. Self-aware people are highly energetic and influential in all chosen aspects of their lives.
Can you name your top three values? How about ten? When you know what you value, you have a better sense of you are and why you are here. If you are having trouble starting a list, find one on the internet by googling “values list.” My coaching practice works with people seeking balance. Once clients are able to name, value, and rate the qualities according to how they are currently living their lives, that opens a floodgate to balancing the things they love with the necessities in life that are also important. The result is greater satisfaction and joy.
The following is a partial list of values that I use with folks to assess their values:
Accomplishment
Abundance
Adventure
Authenticity
Autonomy
Clarity
Commitment
Communication
Community
Environment
Excellence
Family
Flexibility
Freedom
Friendship
Fun
Humor
Integrity
Intimacy
Joy
Loyalty
Orderliness
Partnership
Power
Privacy
Professionalism
Respect
Romance
Security
Self-Care
Service
Trust
Truth
Vitality
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, and I can imagine as you glance over this list, you might even be thinking, “Where is ______?” If so, you are already on your way to understanding things that you value.
Once you have made your own large list, rate each with a number rating, 1-10, 1 less valued and 10 carrying a high value. Then narrow this down to the top 10, then the top five, etc., until you come to your top value. Sure, you value many things, but what do you value more than anything else in the world?
The next step is to go back to your list of the top 10 values and rate them on how you demonstrate that value in your life. If your number is smaller than the value rating, this points to an imbalance in how you are living your life compared with what you truly value.
Here’s an example. Let’s say that I narrow down my values list to my most important (a 10), FAMILY. Yet, I feel that I only demonstrate that value at about a 7. I must then ask myself what I also value that takes my time and effort away from FAMILY. PROFESSIONALISM comes in at a 9, and this is directly attached to my job and how much time I spend at maintaining my professionalism. It seems that my work interferes with the way I show how I value my family. This imbalance is definitely worth exploring. Besides maintaining my professional attitude, which includes being there on time each day, what part of that can I change to demonstrate to my family that I value them first in my life? Perhaps I can develop new organizational strategies that make the stressful mornings more joyful - and I can still be on time to work.
The good news is that we can all create a conscious shift to honor what we value based on its importance in our lives. Core values remain fairly steady during the course of our lives, but certain life-changing events can have an effect on shifting those values. Defining what we value can lead us into uncovering truths about ourselves that will deepen our relationships, generate energy, and set the soul on fire!
I can help you move your life into balance through shifting you energetically toward your true values. Visit my website for contact information and drop me a line or call. Everyone deserves a life that demonstrates their greatest values are being honored.
Toward what you value,
Coach Leona
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