Core Values for Intentional Living
Core values are important to living an Intentional Life...but are YOU aligned with your core values?
A quick search for the definitions of VALUE included this one from Dictionary.com:
Value definition: relative worth, merit, or importance: the value of a college education; the value of a queen in chess.
Values as a noun: a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.
And as a verb: consider (someone or something) to be important or beneficial; have a high opinion of.
Did you know that a healthy lifestyle includes living within the boundaries of your values?
When you are not aligned with your personal values, unhappiness and overwhelm can take over your life.
I have been following the philosophy of the Indian Proverb A House with Four Rooms for most of my adult life; it's been the foundation to my life, the strategy behind designing my "blueprint" system for living, and has guided me through some pretty rough times. I say rough times because life can be difficult for all of us.
Knowing your Core Values is essential to living an Intentional Life because this knowledge becomes a personal compass as one navigates life, makes decisions, and takes action.
But...here's the rub.
Learning and understanding that your Core Values can change is paramount to successful living, so it's essential to make sure your Core Values are aligned to this season of your life.
Here’s a quick exercise to practice when you need to realign to your values:
1. Jot down a list of times that you felt the most happy, fulfilled, and accomplished. What were the circumstances and details that led up to these feelings? Who were you with? What were you doing?
2. Write down a value term to identify each of these circumstances (e.g., you felt satisfied after completing items on your “to-do” list which means you feel accomplished or you felt excited to have learned something new, which means you value learning and growth)
3. Now choose up to five core values that resonate with you that you’ll use to set your core perimeter.
When you have decisions to make, rely on your personal values to guide your next best steps and the direction you’ll go.
It’s important to zero in on your top 5 core values and make them your priority. If you try to focus on more than five, well, as James Clear states, “...then nothing is really a priority.”
Some core values that may resonate with you include:
Authenticity
Achievement
Balance
Beauty
Boldness
Compassion
Community
Competency
Creativity
Determination
Fairness
Faith
Fame
Growth
Happiness
Integrity
Justice
Kindness
Leadership
Learning
Love
Loyalty
Optimism
Peace
Recognition
Reputation
Respect
Service
Tenacity
Understanding
Wealth
Wisdom
Zeal
This is not an exhaustive list, but it will get you started.
What are your top five?
Are there others you would have me add to this list? Please share in the comments or let me know at [email protected] with the subject line "Core Values"!
You can also connect with me on social media @coachlisamcgrath.
Cheers!
Lisa
The life philosophy of A House With Four Rooms suggests thinking of yourself as being four rooms: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual rooms. It advocates for doing something daily for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.