Five Quick Steps To Get You Using Your Values...

Knowing your values is so important for your happiness, motivation and achievements through life...

The big question is "How to use them?"

Lets get started...

Step 1: 

Define your values.

What does the word you chose from the values list mean for you?  There are many interpretations of the same word so don’t think about the dictionary meaning, or what it might mean to your family, spouse or children.  What does it mean for you?  Write down your definition of the value.

Step 2: 

How does it show up for you?

Try completing this sentence for each of the values you have chosen:

___________ is my value because I can be seen (doing, having, being …) .

Draw on real examples that bring the value to life.  What do others see when you are living this value?  How do you feel when you are living the value?  What are you doing?  Reflect deeply and be honest.  There may even be things you do that aren’t healthy (derailers anyone?) that will also indicate it’s a true value of yours. 

Step 3: 

Test them out with people who know you well

When my wife and I shared our values with each other, we got immediate feedback!  We could both really see how each value was underpinned by action.  We gave each other examples of when we’d seen the value in action – both good and bad – and it really helped solidify our values.  In my case, sharing them out loud, I could see a few overlaps in some of my top five values, so I went back to one of the words I had eliminated previously and put it in my top five. 

Step 4: 

Write an action plan

What can you do every day to live your values?   How will you keep them top of mind?  My wife and I have made a vision board of our top five and we hang them in our offices.  You may want to also write a daily or weekly plan.  Choose one value that you will focus on for the day or week and actively do something that plays into it. 

Step 5: 

Weave your values into your goals

Think about the goals you want to achieve and think about how incorporating one or all of your values will help you achieve it!  Think about the actions you identified in Step 2 and work out how they will help you achieve your goals.  Remember, some of those actions may be derailers so being mindful of them will also help you overcome obstacles when they arise!

We’ve already covered a lot in the Flourishing Me series but there’s more!  Keep that journal out and keep writing! 

As Brené Brown says, “DIG deep – get deliberate, inspired and going”.  (The Gifts of Imperfection)

Your ZipCode Wellness Team