Discovering Your Personal Values: A Key Step Towards Wellness
Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions of life? Do you often find yourself feeling unfulfilled or dissatisfied, despite achieving success by society’s standards? If so, it might be time to take a step back and discover your personal values.
Many people go through life without ever taking the time to identify their core values. These are the beliefs and principles that guide your decisions and actions, and they play a crucial role in helping you live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
What Are Personal Values?
Personal values are the beliefs that are most important to you. They can be things like honesty, integrity, compassion, or creativity. Your values are unique to you, and they are influenced by a variety of factors such as your upbringing, religion, culture, and life experiences.
Why Are Personal Values Important?
When you know your personal values, you have a clear sense of what is most important to you. This can help you make decisions that align with your beliefs, and avoid situations that go against them. When your actions are in line with your values, you feel more authentic and content.
On the other hand, living in conflict with your values can lead to stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. For example, if you value honesty but work in a culture where lying is the norm, you may feel constantly pressured to compromise your principles. This can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing.
How to Discover Your Personal Values
Discovering your personal values is a process that can take time and self-reflection. Here are some steps to help you get started:
1. Identify Times You’ve Felt Most Satisfied
Think back to times when you felt happiest and most fulfilled. What were the common factors in these situations? For example, you might notice that you feel most content when you’re helping others, or when you’re pursuing a creative hobby.
2. Reflect on Your Role Models
Who do you look up to and admire? What qualities do they possess that you aspire to develop in yourself? For example, you might admire a friend who always speaks up for what they believe in, even if it’s unpopular.
3. Consider Your Strengths and Weaknesses
What skills and qualities do you excel in? What are areas where you struggle? Your values may be closely tied to the things you are naturally good at and passionate about.
4. Take a Values Assessment
There are a variety of online assessments that can help you discover your personal values. These quizzes typically ask you to rank a series of statements based on how strongly you agree or disagree with them. Some popular assessments include the Personal Values Assessment by MindTools and the Values In Action Inventory by the VIA Institute on Character.
Bringing Your Values into Your Daily Life
Once you’ve identified your values, it’s important to bring them into your daily life. Here are some tips to help you live in alignment with your core beliefs:
1. Set Goals That Align with Your Values
When you set goals that align with your values, you are more likely to be motivated and fulfilled by the process of pursuing them. For example, if you value creativity, you might set a goal to write a novel or learn a new art technique.
2. Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People
Find a community of people who share your values and support each other in living them out. This could be a club, a support group, or simply a group of friends who share similar beliefs.
3. Use Your Values to Guide Your Decisions
When faced with a decision or challenge, ask yourself which option aligns with your personal values. This can help you make decisions that are authentic and true to yourself.
4. Practice Self-Reflection
Regularly reflecting on your actions and how they align with your values can help you stay focused and connected to what’s most important to you. This could be through journaling, meditation, or simply taking some time each day to reflect on your choices.
Conclusion: Living a Fulfilling Life
Identifying and living according to our personal values is a key step towards living a fulfilling and successful life. When we know what’s truly important to us, we can make choices that bring us joy and satisfaction. So take some time to reflect on your values and how you can bring them into your daily life. Your wellbeing and happiness will thank you.
