When you’re driving in slow traffic do you find yourself wondering why you’ve made specific life choices. Do you find yourself in the endless cycle of ‘why did I or didn’t I’? Sometimes these choices are made in convention with your culture, community or family expectations, or even due to your spiritual faith. We find that most people make decisions according to a few “core values.” however, many have never taken the time to articulate those principles.
We are all complex beings holding a various set of core values, not just those that are academic or corporate related. If think you represent only a finite set of core values, the following categories might re-start your thinking cycle. Consider where your deep views rest on: Patriotic Convictions, Importance of grandparents and relatives, Intellectual growth, Financial ethics, Respect for others, Moral worldview, and Reverence for any higher source.
As we progress on our aging journey, having families, becoming a political advocate, assuming social responsibility; and, assuring environmental safety for generations to come, our outlook may shift or radically change from those you previously held. And in all transitions, this is a natural part of your life’s journey, explore without guilt.
If you’re evaluating where you stand today with core values, ask yourself:
• What are your top 5 core values or most empowering beliefs today? Are they significantly different than those you were reared under? Do you practice these in your decision making today?
• Are you still living with core values from the past that make your decisions non-congruent with who you truly are today? Do you suffer guilt over ‘breaking out’ of the family or social practices in pursuing your life’s direction? What would be the benefits and consequences of pursuing your “life’s” direction when it breaks out of the family’s or generally accepted social practices?
• When you don’t get the results you want from your actions, what standards are you making your decisions by, family tradition, invisible community rules, conformity to certain organizations, etc.?
• If you continue to pass authority to outdated core values what do you envision your future to look like? What mood does this place you in resignation, resentfulness, apathy, sadness?
“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.” Francis Bacon