If you’ve recently reassessed your values, well… join the club! The past year and a half have been unlike any other. As a result, many people find themselves reevaluating what feels important to them. They’re taking stock of what brings meaning to their life. Examining what guides them and helps them through tough times. In other words, they’re redefining their values.
Most folks learned their values from the caretakers and authority figures in their lives. Over time, you may question some of them. You may rebel against others. Values can always be changed. The real work lies in living them in your daily life.
3 Ways to Reassess Your Values
1. Make a List
Get yourself a journal and keep track of what brings richness to your existence. Find an online list of common values to get an idea of what you’re looking for. Possible values may include creativity, loyalty, gratitude, adventure, security, family, independence, and more.
2. Reevaluate the People in Your Life
Your values are often reflected in those who are closest to you. In that same journal, take note of these people. Identify what makes you connect with them. Honestly assess your feelings about them. Also, think about people you know that you wish were closer to you. This list of individuals can provide a lot of insight into who you are.
3. Be Mindful
Pay close attention to your own choices, actions, and behaviors. Are they in alignment with your values? If not, do you need to change the values or the behaviors?
How to Start Living Your Values
Give Yourself a Mission
Live a life of purpose. Give yourself a powerful and exciting reason to get out of bed in the morning. Set goals. This kind of work is motivating. It also strips away the stuff that adds nothing to your life. When you’re on a mission, it becomes much easier to identify and align with your values.
Don’t Seek External Approval
It is virtually impossible to live out your values if your goal is to impress others. Their opinions are unreliable and often, they’re barely paying attention. Sure, it’s nice to get compliments and approval. The key is to let these moments set your personal agenda.
Find Ways to Help Others
When you reach out to help someone else, you learn SO much about yourself. Make loving kindness a big part of your daily life. Listen carefully in those moments of altruism. Your heart and soul will speak to you in new and unfamiliar ways.
Stay True to Yourself
You are exposed to so many influences. If could be someone new you met. It could be the last book you read. There’s so much to be gained by remaining open to new ideas. There is also so much to be lost if you let outside voices dominate your own. So, make time for quiet contemplation to stay rooted in your own perspectives and values.
Do Your Values Feel Muddled or Inauthentic?
Because values are often imposed upon you, they may not feel genuine. Because values usually evolve, they may also feel unclear to you. If any of this sounds familiar, it may make a lot of sense to talk to someone who can help. A skilled therapist is ideally positioned to support you as you reconnect and reimagine what is meaningful in your life.
Your underlying thoughts and beliefs will be revealed and discussed. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the influences in your life. Most of all, you can talk openly about the intersection of your priorities and your responsibilities. Please contact me today about individual counseling. I’m here to help. Your one-on-one sessions will add clarity and depth to all you do.
