Values are the things we consider to be important in life. They are our heart’s deepest desires for the way we want to interact with the world, other people, and most importantly, ourselves.
Values are at the heart of most things we currently do, or have done in our lives. They form the basis for our beliefs and our decisions about what is right and wrong. They are so important because they can guide our choices and actions, help us to make decisions, and determine how we live our lives.
Unconscious and/or Conscious
Values are not always easy to express in words, but they do have an impact on our lives whether we realize it or not - aka consciously and/or unconsciously. In fact, values influence many decisions that we make without even realizing it: What kind of job do you want? Where will you live? Who will be your friends? What kind of person do you want to marry? How should you raise your children?
Sense of Meaning & Purpose
Values come from within us, so they are unique to each person. They represent what we find meaningful and important in life. Values help us make sense of our lives and give us a sense of meaning and purpose. They allow us to feel like we’re contributing something meaningful to the world around us. When we take action that aligns with our values, we feel like we are living according to our highest self and purpose.
Energy
Our values also determine how much energy we put into pursuing certain goals in life. For example, some people value financial success over family happiness; others might value having a fulfilling career over ‘making bank’; while some would rather spend their time volunteering at a homeless shelter than going out drinking with friends on weekends.
Self-worth
When we feel like our choices don’t align with our values, it can make us feel conflicted or uneasy inside. Our values shape our sense of self-worth. When we align our actions with our values, we feel good about ourselves. When they are incongruent, we experience stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression and other mental health conditions if left untreated.
Change, Grow & Develop
Our values also change over time as we grow and develop. When we were teenagers, our values may have been different from our parents or grandparents. As we grew up and experienced more of life, our values potentially changed again, and then for example: after college, after getting married, after having kids, after getting sick, ect.
Conclusion
When you have clear values, you have an inner guidance system that keeps you on track. Values can be thought of as a compass that guides us through life. They keep us connected to what matters most, even when it gets hard. When you know your values, you can make decisions based on them instead of reacting out of anger, anxiety, fear and/or confusion.
✨ Are you interested in deep diving into your values? ✨
Reach out on the contact form on the bottom of the page!