Aligning Your Lifestyle with Your Core Values
Published on:
Giving ourselves permission to live our lives in alignment with our values can be a transformative experience that brings about inner peace and helps us gain confidence. When we prioritize our values and make decisions based on them, we eliminate doubt and the need for validation from others. Instead of seeking confirmation from the outside world, we begin to evaluate the values of those around us, considering whether or not we want to allow them into our lives based on how closely their values align with ours.
This shift in perspective can be liberating. By living true to our values, we become whole and comfortable in our own skin. We no longer feel the need to conform to societal pressures or seek the approval of others. We can embrace solitude and the freedom that comes with it, knowing that we are living a life that is true to ourselves.
Our values represent what is most important to us in the present moment. They are the personal sacred rules for living the life we desire, regardless of who we meet. However, values are not set in stone and can change as we age, acquire wisdom, and enter different phases of life. Significant life events, such as having a child, changing careers, or experiencing a traumatic event, can alter our values. This is normal.
One common struggle is when individuals hold a value in high regard but unconsciously fail to uphold it in their daily lives. For instance, someone may cherish family as a core value but neglect spending quality time with loved ones due to prioritizing their work commitments. Someone else may value compassion, but find themselves becoming judgmental when they witness an individual struggling in certain areas of their life. By becoming conscious of our values, we can make better decisions towards living a more authentic life, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling relationship with our loved ones and most importantly with ourselves.
Remaining open to the possibility that our values may shift as we grow and evolve is important. As we experience new life situations and gain new insights, our values may change. For example, a person who values independence and self-reliance may realize that they value community and collaboration more as they age. Re-evaluating our values allows us to continue to live authentically as we evolve and grow.
Some of the areas where knowing your values is particularly important are:
- Personal relationships: Your values play a significant role in how you form and maintain relationships with others, including romantic partners, family, friends, and colleagues. For instance, if you value honesty, trust, and communication, you may prioritize these qualities in your personal relationships and seek out people who share these values.
- Career: Your values can also guide you in choosing a career path that aligns with your passions and beliefs. For example, if you value helping others, you may be drawn to careers in social work, teaching, or healthcare.
- Health and wellness: Your values can inform your choices related to your physical and mental health, such as the foods you eat, the exercise you do, and the self-care practices you engage in. For instance, if you value self-care and stress reduction, you may prioritize activities like meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature.
- Financial decisions: Your values can influence how you spend, save, and invest your money. For example, if you value sustainability, you may choose to invest in companies that prioritize environmentally friendly practices.
The purposes of knowing your values are numerous. Some of the key benefits of knowing your values include:
- Greater clarity and direction: Knowing your values can help you gain clarity about what is truly important to you and provide direction in your life choices.
- Better decision-making: Your values can serve as a framework for making decisions that align with your beliefs and goals.
- Improved relationships: Understanding your own values and priorities can help you form deeper, more meaningful connections with others who share similar values.
- Increased self-awareness: Knowing your values can help you understand your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas for growth and improvement.
- Enhanced sense of purpose: Aligning your actions with your values can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.
Questions to Help Identify Your Core Values
- What are the things that bring me the most joy and fulfillment in my life?
- what am I the most proud of?
- What are the things that I am willing to stand up for, even if it means facing opposition or criticism from others?
- What are the principles that guide my decisions and actions?
- What are the qualities that I admire most in others, and strive to embody in myself?
- What are the causes or issues that I am most passionate about, and feel compelled to support or advocate for?
- What are the things that I am willing to make sacrifices for, because they are so important to me?
- What are the things that I am not willing to compromise on, even if it means missing out on other opportunities?
- What are the things that I am most proud of in my life, and why are they important to me?
- What are the things that I would like to be remembered for, and what does that say about my core values?
- What are the things that I fear the most losing, and why are they so valuable to me?
To begin living in alignment with our values, we must first identify what those values are. We may already have a sense of our core values, but it can be helpful to take some time to reflect on them and write them down. Once we have a clear sense of our values, we can begin to make decisions that align with them, even in the face of challenging situations or difficult choices.
It’s important to remember that living in alignment with our values is not always easy. There may be times when we feel pressured to compromise our values in order to fit in or achieve a certain outcome. However, by staying true to ourselves, we can build a sense of inner strength and resilience that can sustain us through difficult times. Take a look at the values listed and choose the top ten that resonate with you the most.
- Acceptance
- Accountability
- Achievement
- Adventure
- Authenticity
- Balance
- Benevolence
- Boldness
- Bravery
- Caring
- Certainty
- Change
- Clarity
- Commitment
- Communication
- Compassion
- Confidence
- Connectedness
- Consistency
- Cooperation
- Courage
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Daring
- Determination
- Development
- Diligence
- Discipline
- Diversity
- Empathy
- Empowerment
- Encouragement
- Energy
- Enthusiasm
- Equality
- Excellence
- Excitement
- Fairness
- Faith
- Family
- Flexibility
- Forgiveness
- Freedom
- Friendship
- Fun
- Generosity
- Gentleness
- Giving
- Gratitude
- Growth
- Happiness
- Harmlessness
- Health
- Honesty
- Honor
- Hope
- Humility
- Imagination
- Impact
- Independence
- Integrity
- Intensity
- Intention Joy
- Justice
- Kindness
- Knowledge
- Leadership
- Learning
- Liberty
- Logic
- Love
- Loyalty
- Making a difference
- Mindfulness
- Moderation
- Modesty
- Oneness
- Open-mindedness
- Optimism
- Order
- Passion
- Patience
- Peace
- Perseverance
- Positive thinking
- Professionalism
- Progress
- Purpose
- Quality
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Self-care
- Self-control
- Self-discipline
- Self-expression
- Self-reliance
- Service
- Spirituality
- Success
Our values act as a compass that guides us in making decisions that align with what is truly important to us. By practicing mindfulness and being intentional with our choices, we can ensure that our values are reflected in our actions and decisions.
Mindfulness involves being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction. When we practice mindfulness, we can become more attuned to our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, which can help us make decisions that align with our values.
For example, if one of our core values is honesty, we can practice mindfulness when faced with a situation where we might be tempted to lie. By taking a moment to reflect on our values and the potential consequences of our actions, we can make a more conscious and intentional decision to speak the truth.
In addition to practicing mindfulness, it can also be helpful to regularly reflect on our values and assess whether our actions and decisions are in alignment with them. This can involve journaling, meditation, or simply taking time to reflect on our experiences and how they relate to our values.
Overall, by practicing mindfulness and regularly reflecting on our values, we can ensure that we are making decisions that align with our deepest beliefs and desires, leading to a greater sense of purpose, fulfillment, and inner peace.
Published on:
THE CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE NOT MEANT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP AND COUNSELING. THE READERS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM USING IT FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC ENDS. THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER CAN ONLY BE DONE BY PROFESSIONALS SPECIFICALLY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO DO SO. THE AUTHOR IS NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.