Today, I want to talk about values. They guide our lives and are like a compass to keep us on the clear and narrow. We learn basic values as young children, and then continue to evolve and adapt them as we grow into adulthood. Along the way things can sometimes get murky. Part of growing up involves questioning the values we’ve grown up with and sometimes, we simply disregard some of the values we’ve grown up with without setting up a clear new system of values to guide us.
The beauty of living a purpose driven life is that as soon as you start paying attention to what you want to accomplish and start to live with purpose, your values become clear. You know without a shadow of a doubt what’s most important to you. You may choose family over a big raise or overtime. You may choose working hard now and saving up over instant gratification. You may choose going out and making friends or exercising (or both at once) over sleeping in on the weekend. You get the idea.
When you live with purpose… no matter how big or small those purposes may be… you live based on values. When you look at it and think about it for a minute, those values will become very clear to you. You’ll see what’s most important to you. That in turn will help throughout the rest of your life moving forward.
Once you are clear about your values and have them defined, it becomes much easier to make daily decisions and choices. With your value compass in place, you only have to ask yourself if what you are doing is aligning with those values. That in turn makes your life a lot easier. You no longer have to agonize or second guess yourself. Instead, you make your decision and are confident that it’s the right one.
Having a moral compass and set of values gives you a lot of confidence. You know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you’re doing the right thing and are moving in the right direction. Between that and the passion and excitement a purpose driven life brings, you’ll feel like you’re on the right path. That takes a lot of stress, worry, and second guessing out of the equation, which is a very good thing.
I’m sure you’ve noticed people around you who have a strong purpose and values. They stride through life instead of stumbling. That’s the goal and that’s what I want you to get out of this 30 Day Living with Purpose challenge. Start paying attention to your own moral compass of values and let it guide you well on this sometimes complicated, and sometimes treacherous path of living life.
Try this for values clarification! The values are suggestions only–use these or your own words.
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