We are happiest when our lives are in alignment with our core values. Living this way nurtures what is most meaningful to us and allows us to feel more peaceful, grounded, and fulfilled. Anything that conflicts with our values will create more stress and dissonance in our lives.
It is very easy to get sidetracked by what seems easy or what other people are doing. Our technology also pulls us away from our lives and our best selves. We have become a society that spends more time looking at our electronic devices than the people we love.
Your life might be out of alignment with your values if:
- You go on shopping sprees when you want to be debt free
- Your calendar is full of things that keep you busy, but are not meaningful
- You work very long hours when you most value spending time with your family
- You feel resentful and say hurtful things when you aspire to be a loving person
- You eat unhealthy foods or don’t exercise when you want to improve your health
- You do things that you are ashamed of or wouldn’t want people to know about
- Your checking account register and credit card statements do not reflect your long term goals
You get the idea. If you are feeling out of sync with what you value most, it’s time to make some changes.
I recommend doing a values discovery process at least once a year. Your primary values can shift, especially if there has been a big change in your life. This discovery process will remind you of how you really want to live and help you focus in on creating a life that is meaningful. When you live your values, you can become the best version of yourself.
Download Your Free Values Discovery Process Form
Once you have reconnected with your top 5-7 values, use them as guideposts for your life. Keep them in front of you so they can be an ever present reminder of what you want to create in your life. While most of my clients post them around their house, at their desk, or in their car, some of my clients have been quite creative in how they keep their values in front of them. One even painted them in large letters on her living room and bedroom walls.
Hold your life up to your values to see how you are doing and what you may want to shift. Look at how you are with:
- Money
- Relationships
- Time
- Your spiritual life
- How you show up
- Moods
- Your self-talk
- Kindness
- Your body and health
- What you focus on
- Avoiding bad or shameful habits
- Your work and the quality of your output
If you like, you can rate each area on a scale of 1-10 and track your progress. You can also add other areas to consider or delete ones that do not apply.
For each of the areas that feel off track, I encourage you to set goals or embrace new habits that will be more congruent with your values. This will support you in living your life the way it is meant to be, true to your nature and honoring what matters most to you. It can also help you become more effective and successful in the world.
If you would like to explore living your values on a deeper level or simply be guided through the process, I would love to talk to you about how we can work together to help you develop your best self and create a life you love. You can email me at: lifecoachlinda@gmail.com or reach me here.
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