Values (1) Living Your Values in Life

By Jane Newman

Picture from Pixabay

As we travel through life, it can sometimes feel like we are on a road trip without a map or destination in sight. You may come across some fascinating sights along the way, but it can leave you feeling a bit lost in a vast wilderness. Now, picture that same journey again, but this time with a clear destination and a helpful map. Suddenly, every turn, every stop, and every scenic route is filled with purpose and meaning.

This is the wonderful impact that our values have on our lives.

What are Values?

Values are about what’s important to you in life: the kind of person you aspire to be and the legacy you wish to create.  They represent your heartfelt principles that steer your actions and decisions. Think of values as your very own ‘personal GPS’, gently guiding you through the different phases of life with clarity and purpose.

Values differ from goals; they are more like the ‘ongoing intentions’ that guide us towards our goals.

For example, let’s explore the value of ‘making a contribution’.  If this resonates with you, think about how you could nurture this value in your daily life. Consider activities and behaviours that genuinely bring ‘making a contribution’ to life for you. One meaningful way to live this value could be through volunteering, so you begin to find a way to volunteer in your local community once a week.

How can you discover your Values?

To take meaningful actions that truly reflect your values, the first step is to understand what those values are.  There are plenty of ways to explore this, and here are a couple of enjoyable exercises to help you discover what truly matters to you:

Exercise 1: Imagine it is your 80th birthday…

Picture yourself at your birthday party. In turn, one of your good friends and then one of your close family members unexpectedly stands up and makes a short speech about you. 

What do you hope they might be saying about you?  What qualities would you want them to highlight? (Jot down your answers to these questions if you can.)

Exercise 2:  Reflecting on Peak Experiences…

Think about a time when you felt truly alive and fulfilled. What was happening? What values were you honouring during these moments?

 (Jot down your answers to these questions if you can.)

Exercise 3:  The pick and mix list…

Have a look at our values ‘pick and mix’ list at the end of this article, or download the pdf from our site. There are over 100 words on the page, each representing a ‘value’ that a person might hold.  Grab a pen, and your task is to identify your top five.  Some people ‘cross out’ first, while others simply put a tick by the words that resonate best with them.  Whatever your approach, see if you can find your top five, and then consider the next section, which is about ‘Turning your values into action. '

Turning your values into action

We know that identifying your values is a great start, but that you also need to take action to gain the most from your values. Below are some suggestions on how you can do that:

1.      Set value-based goals: Break down your values into specific, actionable goals and then do them!

2.      Remember to make small, consistent steps: Start with small, consistent steps that align with your values.

3.      Use Values as a Compass: When faced with a decision, big or small, ask yourself which option aligns best with your values. Let your values guide your choices.

Next steps in your journey   

Embracing your values means making thoughtful choices that resonate with what truly matters to you. They create a strong foundation for the next exciting chapter of your life.

We invite you to take some time to explore and identify what really matters to you. enabling you to make choices and take actions that align with those values.

We encourage you to continue to reflect and work on this yourself.  In fact, if you have a partner it is a great idea to work on this together.  

Further Resources: 

If you would like to explore your values with a Coach then please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Alternatively, we have built a short online programme which you can follow and explore at your own pace.  We aim to offer this for the same cost as a good book.  If you would like to register for this short programme, please email us at: hello@co-labpeople.com. 

 Edited by Steve Lewis.