I love my job as a coach, and one of my favorite things to work on with a client is values clarification. Once a person is crystal clear on what is truly important to them, they begin to see where they are making choices that honor those values and where they are making choices that toss those values aside. In nearly every case, when a client is feeling out of sorts or frustrated or lost or confused, it's because they are not being intentional about making choices that align with what is most important to them in their lives.
I found a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that has a wonderful message about the importance of being clear about your values.
"To be mature you have to realize what you value most. It is extraordinary to discover that comparatively few people reach this level of maturity. They seem never to have paused to consider what has value for them. They spend great effort and sometimes make great sacrifices for values that, fundamentally, meet no real needs of their own. Perhaps they have imbibed the values of their particular profession or job, of their community or their neighbors, of their parents or family. Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one’s own values is a tragic waste. You have missed the whole point of what life is for."
values
My challenge for you this week is to write a list of your top five values - what is most important to you in your life? Once you've done that, ask yourself how you are doing in making choices (in all parts of your life) that honor those values. If you find a gap, make a commitment to make different choices and get back to living your life in alignment.
If you struggle with this exercise, then complete a request on this website for a coaching session. Let me help you get clear on what means the most to you, and create an action plan to align your choices with your values. I'd love to help!
