Proverbs 12:3 & 12 (CEV) “Sins cannot offer security! But if you live right, you will be as secure as a tree with deep roots…good people are like trees with deep roots.”
We all have certain principles and values we believe in and live by. These are the innermost beliefs that distinguish who we are and how we conduct ourselves. Our values are the things that are very important to us. Our values permeate through all areas of life, family, health, career, and faith. Strong convictions about what we value and keeping them front and center in our lives, keep us focused and balanced on what is important to us. Focusing on what you value, coupled with solid principles, will help you live a fulfilling life far more satisfying than any short-term gain from compromising.
DECISION MAKING
Have there been times you’ve had trouble making a decision? In business and in life, we must make decisions all the time. Many times, there is no one right or wrong answer. There is just a decision you must make as to which of the multiple solutions to choose for that particular situation. These are what I would classify as “grey” areas in decision-making. In my opinion, these “grey” areas are stumbling blocks of indecisiveness. The stumbling blocks are a result of not having clear values. Once you develop clarity to your values, making these decisions becomes easier.
Far too many people to through life on autopilot and live by default, without any enthusiasm. They sway to and frow with whatever way the wind is blowing. Frequently, this is because they would rather do nothing than take the time to plan. Proverbs 6:9 (CEV) “How long will you lie there doing nothing at all? When are you going to get up and stop sleeping?” The consequences of a default life are burnout, depression, and ineffectiveness. The key is to evaluate what is important to you, and then make sure your life is in sync with that. Proverbs 16:9 (CEV) “We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.” Rebelling is anything contrary to the will of God. I was good at rebelling and then not understanding why my plans never panned out. After I sought out his will and made adjustments accordingly, I found happiness. I used to be on medications for depression and was completely burned out. I am happy to report I am no longer on any medications and have a clear purpose and direction.
ACHIEVEMENT
People who have a deep sense of fulfillment in life are people who feel strongly about their values. They are willing to do whatever needs to be done so they can to live them. Your commitment to your values must be at a level that will motivate you to act and live by them. Making the decision is not the hard part. People make resolutions and decisions every New Years with no intention of following through and planning in the actions required to accomplish them. Find a deep conviction about something you value, and then commit to live by it every single day. This will spark a fire deep inside you and you will not be able to extinguish it no matter what challenges may come your way.
What would your ideal life look like? If time and money were not an obstacle, what would your ideal life look like? I was posed this question when my life was in complete and utter chaos. I was living in survival mode. I couldn’t think past the bill collector who just called and he wanted me to think of my ideal life. Trust me, you can do this.
Take a closer look at your list of the things you value most. You’ve ranked them in order of importance and you indicated the actual percentage of time you spend living and supporting these values. If you could design your ideal life, what would it look like? Notice I didn’t say perfect life. How would you design your ideal day? How would you design your ideal week?
How many of the items you listed require money to achieve? The first time I went through this exercise, I had twelve items on my list for what my ideal day and week would look like. Only three of them required money to achieve. My coach said, “Then why are you not living your ideal life today?” What? I was three quarters of the way there and I didn’t know it. I was so focused on what I didn’t have that I completely missed what I did have. When I started to focus on living a life by design ironically the financial stuff didn’t matter as much and the resources started to appear and took care of themselves.
Start living and design a life in line with your values. Values are not fluffy or aloof. They are fundamentally who you are as a human being. Some of your values may change as your circumstances in life change. I am constantly being transformed by the Holy Spirit. What is important today may not be important five years from now. Consequently, it is important to review your values on a regular basis to make sure they are still important to you.
Now, let’s get more focused on your values and living a life by design. Restate your top six values in the chart below. Next, list one key action you can take to implement the value into your life. For example, let’s say health is one of your top six values. Here is how that line on the chart might look:
Then schedule it in your calendar. Since we now know “If all you do is talk, you destroy yourself,” it is time to stop talking and start moving.
We will refer to this chart later as we work on developing your goals. Each step builds upon the other, so take time and complete each step before moving on to the next step. As I said earlier, review this list on a regular basis to keep your values top of mind and aligned with who you are through your journey in life.
In this exercise, you’ll identify what you value most in life, and then rank each item from most important to least important. Examples that might appear on your list include:
Family – Health – Spiritual Fulfillment – Love – Relationships – Generosity – Adventure – Achievement – Passion – Creativity – Leaving a Legacy – Fun/Happiness – Compassion – Learning – Helping Others – Simplicity – Financial Security – Peace of Mind – Respect – Gratitude – Abundance – Positive Attitude – Faith – Growth – Honesty – Integrity – Kindness – Selflessness – Significance – Vitality – Wisdom – Intimacy – Security – Peace
DIRECTIONS
List at least six things you value most in life, and then rank them in order of importance. Then, indicate the actual percentage of time you spend living and supporting these values.
THINGS I VALUE MOST IN LIFE ARE:
Take a close look at your list. Are you spending a lot of time living and supporting your values? Remember: values are not some fluffy ideal. They need to be fundamental to who you are as a human being. With that said, some of your values may change over time due to changing circumstances in your life. What’s important to you today may not be important to you five years from now.
Consequently, it’s important to review your values on a regular basis to make sure they are still important to you.
To get more focused on your values, restate your top six values in the chart below, then list one key action you can implement that will help you more fully integrate that value into your life. For example, let’s say health is one of your top six values. Here’s how that line on the chart might look:
NOW COMPLETE YOUR FULL CHART
You’ll refer to this chart a little later as you work on developing your goals. Long term, to keep your values top of mind, review this list on a regular basis.