Values have long since become a hot topic. Companies, clubs, individuals: everyone is talking about them. And rightly so. Values are our compass. When we truly understand them and use them to guide our choices, we lead more fulfilling lives.
What are values?
The Dorsch Lexicon of Psychology, which accompanied me throughout my psychology studies, defines them as follows:
«A value orientation is a stable disposition that expresses what a person considers important in life and which long-term life goals (…) they therefore regard as desirable. (…) Value orientation is part of the self-concept, as it also provides an answer to the question: Who am I? (…) It serves as a guiding principle throughout life, across situations and over time.»
Why do they matter?
Put simply: when you live in accordance with your values, you feel content and fulfilled. When you don't, you may experience inner conflict, withdraw or feel restless.
Let me illustrate this with an example. One of my most important values is growth. More specifically, I define this value as follows:
«I continuously develop and learn new things (in every sense, not just intellectually). I embrace opportunities and actively seek them out (for example, by taking on projects outside my comfort zone). I recognise my own limiting patterns and break free from them in order to grow.»
I live this value to the fullest in my professional life. I can reinvent myself time and again, and I have created the freedom to decide for myself what I do and how I work. This is where I find fulfilment.
Another important value for me is simplicity. This means that I appreciate straightforward processes and avoid unnecessary complexity. I own few possessions and value each one. I love quiet: I avoid unnecessary words and sometimes prefer not to speak at all. I value having fewer plans and more free time.
Living by this value is not always easy when balancing my work and family life. I work a lot and don't always find the quiet I need. This is a conscious choice, but one that doesn't fully honour this value and sometimes leaves me feeling frustrated.
When you understand your values and what they mean to you, you can make better, more conscious decisions. And those decisions, in turn, lead to a greater sense of fulfilment.
How can you discover or refine your values?
In this free guide, I show you step by step how to discover and refine your values. You'll also explore the situations and relationships in which you do, or don't, live in accordance with them. This helps you address conflicts more consciously and actively shape your life around what truly matters to you.
This guide corresponds to Module 3 of the Focus Forward 12-week coaching programme. If you'd like to find out more, sign up for the May programme!