That may seem like a silly question. On a small scale, like what color shirt to wear or what to eat for breakfast are decisions that probably don’t require much contemplation. (Unless you overthink things).

 

But on a larger scale, what principles guide your decision making? Your principles are usually closely related to what your values are. If you value health, you may choose to get up early and go to the gym. If you value spirituality, you may get up early to spend time in prayer/meditation. If you value connection with others, you may get up early to meet friends for a quick cup of coffee.

 

Unfortunately, many people make decisions that do not actually support what they value most. Often, they don’t even realize what their values are. (If you would like a list of values, you can go to https://jamesclear.com/core-values). They make decisions in the moment, but those decisions are not supporting their larger scale vision for their life. And to be fair, rarely are we taught to stop and figure out what our personal values are. If you don't know exactly what is important, it is difficult to align your decisions with your values. Not to complicate matters, but you may have different values depending on what situation you are in. Your values priorities may shift, depending on what situation you are in. Are you at work, at home or on vacation? 

 

I was first introduced to the concept of defining my values in 2020. I was very intrigued and set about the process to figure out what I value and how I should be making decisions. I chose my top 10, then ranked them in order of importance. I would love to be able to tell you that my decisions always support my values and long term goals. But I can say I at least know what I am aiming for and I'm better than I used to be.

 

I have encouraged people that I work closely with to list their values. You have to figure out what is important for you. It is different for everyone.  Another important guide post is your long term goals. Once you have these things defined, it should help you make better decisions for your life. I want to add, I don’t use 'Family' as a value, because to me, that is a given. You have to make decisions with your family in mind. But it’s a balancing act between your responsibility to them and your responsibility to yourself. Yes, you have a responsibility to treat yourself fairly. You are just as important as any other member of your family.

 

If you would like more information about determining your current values, Dr. John Demartini has questions you can ask yourself.  How To Determine Your Core Values | 13 Questions with Dr John Demartini.

 

 

Let me know what your top 3-5 values are. (My top 3 are spirituality, respect and service)

 

As you think about your daily life, do your actions support your stated values?

 

Do you need help (accountability) aligning your actions to your values? You can reach out to me at EncantadaEnergyWork@gmail.com