Challenge Day 16: 5 Steps to Define Your Values

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Editor’s note: This is part of  30-day challenge series written by Hanane Anouna.   You can follow along and read the full series here.

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Your family is very important to you. It is the center of all your attention. But you are offered a new job with tremendous benefits in another country and you cannot bring your family with you. Will you prioritize work or family?

Creativity is something part of who you are; you feel very happy whenever you take new initiatives but the environment you are in limits your tasks into executing the plans. Will you stay in that job or quit?

Every day, you may be confronted to endless similar situations where you will have to make choices and firm decisions. These decisions are based on your core values which can tell a lot about you and what you value most in your life.

The Importance of Having Clear Values

Your values are the reasons behind your choices, and the drivers behind your actions. They guide you towards things you should accept and things you should not accept. They allow you to live in a harmony with yourself as you don’t have to pretend to be someone who is not you.

When you have strong core values, your decisions go fast and smooth even in tough time. You will have the courage to change conditions or relations not in accordance with these values.

It will help you know more about your priorities and better manage your time and energy. It will improve your focus and reduce your level of disruption.

Difference between Values, Principles, and Beliefs

When people around you share the same values, then they will unite you. But when you don’t have the same beliefs, then it may divide you.

How to Identify Your Values

To identify them, you need to observe your choices, your decisions and your behavior.

Try to observe your choices, and why you make them.

Identify 2 or 3 people that you admire, and think why you admire them. What are the values they have that ignite this admiration.

Observe your decisions when challenged or in situations of stress, what made you take that decision?

Think of all that makes you feel happy.

Think of situations where you lost control, what are the values that had been transgressed and made you feel frustrated?

Find Your Top Ten Values

Look at the list below and try to identify your TOP values. This list is not exhaustive. You may find others on the web. Try to focus on 10 values that are essential in any decision you make, that also reflect your priorities.

Your values should reflect who you are really and not what you would like to become.

Understand the Significance of Your Values

Your values guide your daily decisions. If one of your values is personal growth, then you should be able to take decisions to learn or acquire new skills.

Personal growth: Acquire new skills

Respect: treat others with respect

Justice: do the right things

Empathy: understand and consider others’ feelings

Creativity: take new initiatives

Integrity: walk the talk

Authenticity: be the same person

When you don’t act in line with your values, you will feel frustrated and you will lose motivation, which will impact your self-esteem and your confidence.

Prioritize Your Values

To learn more about your priorities:

1. Find your top 10 values
2. Find your top 5 values
3. Find your top 3 values

My top five values are family, happiness, growth, achievement, and compassion. What about you?

Test the Credibility of Your Values

Will you sacrifice one of these values for money? If the answer of yes, then they are not real values. Do your decisions take into consideration these values? what do you do in your happiest moments?

At the organizational level, values are important as well even if some of these organizations use them as a decorative tool at the main entrance.

Your Values Can Change

This exercise of identification of values should be adjusted whenever needed as your values may change over time. Your priorities of today may not be the priorities of tomorrow. Today, you may include to your list of values personal growth while it was not very important to you three years ago.

When one of your values is about excellence, you will no longer accept mediocrity.

When you value honesty, you will no longer tolerate insanity.

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