UNDERSTANDING WHY YOU NEED TO LIVE YOUR LIFE'S VALUES
 
What happens when the needle pointing North on your trusty compass is actually pointing East, or even South? You’re bound to head in the wrong direction. The same thing is going to happen when you trample on your personal values. While these simple directional guides may boil down to 5-10 words, they are likely the few things that are a “must consider” when it comes to any decision making.

What are Personal Values? 
Your personal values are unique to you, like your DNA.  For example you and I could both have the value of integrity but we might define and “live” it differently. Values differ from morals which are external guiding principles that are defined and developed by society, religion or culture. Personal values are developed by you through the course of your upbringing and life experiences. They manifest themselves in words like strength, depth, integrity, fun, or ambition and act as an internal compass to help guide all aspects of your life.

How do my values affect my life and decisions?
Your values let you know when you are on the right path or have veered off course. When you are in a situation that doesn’t feel right or you say or do something that leaves you remorseful, that unsettling feeling and sense of disconnect has likely arisen because you’ve trampled on something that matters deeply to you; your values.  The same feelings can be caused by those around you too.  For example, your boss constantly cancels or is late for meetings and it frustrates and upsets you. This is an example of where your boss has trampled on values such as respect and commitment.

How many of us know what we value and have done the work to align our behaviours with these guiding principles? It’s like the old adage; ‘if you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll fall for anything. It is also important to understand that your work values can differ from your personal values and sometimes they overlap.  Knowing what you stand for in each area of your life will support you in making decisions that will bring you the most happiness and success.

How can I uncover my values?
Working with a coach is one of the simplest ways to reveal your values. When working with my clients, I listen for what is most important to them when they share a peak experience in their life; a moment, time frame or event where they felt great happiness and peace. Also things that really make us mad are often evidence of a value that has been trampled on.

When working on your own to uncover values, ask yourself what matters most to you. Make a list and use this as your starting point.  Some of the things that are most important to me are friends, family, working independently and with groups of people, visiting new places and continuous education and development.  My values which reflect these things are: connection, autonomy, leadership, freedom, adventure and growth.
 
Whenever I feel out of whack or my compass feels rocked, I go back to my values to see where my alignment is off and I make a conscious choice to realign with what is most important to me through my actions. I ensure my compass is pointing in the right direction.
What is most important to you?  How aligned are your actions and your values?  Tick…tock….make sure your compass isn’t rocked!