Values are formed from your core beliefs and guide how you will live your life. They help you to focus on what is important to you. They answer WHY you will or won't do something. Use your values to help guide your decisions, your relationships, and future plans. When you know your values, you are able to step forward in life with purpose. You are able to use your values to determine your goals and establish your boundaries.
Ask yourself: What do you believe in? What is important in your life? How do you discover what is worth taking a risk for? What is your mission?
These are weighty questions. You might not have all the answers right now. So how will you decide on what beliefs you will use to guide your life?
- Determine what values are important to you. Focus on who you want to be and how you want to be known. Use this tool to get started.
- Of these values, determine which values that are the most important to you. This will look different for each person, but knowing what you value most will give you a foundation for moving forward in life.
- Research and ask questions as you search for what you value and why. Be open to hearing differing viewpoints. Learn from your experiences. Decide what works for you.
- Set goals for yourself based on your values. Goals can shift and change over time. Regularly check in with yourself and your current values; adjust and refocus as needed.
- Establish boundaries that will protect your values.
- Don't expect everyone to agree with your values. If you don't agree with someone, it doesn't make them wrong, nor does it mean they are against you. Just as you don't want others to tell you what you should value, don't push your values on them. Each person must decide their own values. It is part of growing up and figuring out who you are as a person.
Take this step by step. It will give you a direction for your life, inspiring and encouraging you.
