As I start a new year, I have been thinking a lot about values. This is the time of year when we set goals. New Year’s resolutions, if you will. Most of us will have good intentions, but never see through all of the plans we make.
So what determines whether or not you go through with your goals? How do you push through all of the challenges you will face? What motivates you to keep going?
Values.
Values are the things that set your path. They are the things that are the most important to you. Things you find useful, that have worth. Values keep you moving.
The first of the year is a time for new beginnings. It is a good time to look at your values. To look at the things that make you want to get up in the morning.
Values generally fall into one or more of several categories and sub-categories:
- Personal goals (Emotional, Physical, Intellectual)
- Financial goals (Budget, Savings)
- Family (Marriage, Children, Parents, Other kin)
- Relationships (Friends, Community)
- Work (Career, Volunteer, Hobbies)
- Spiritual (God, Church, Meditation/Prayer)
Some of these have higher priority than others. Sometimes priorities change as things happen to you or around you. You may not even be aware of all the values that shape you and direct your decisions.
But now is a good time to decide if what you do every day aligns with what you feel is important. Are there times when you feel uncomfortable or out of sync? That may be a sign that what you are doing is conflicting with your values.
The thing is, if you are having trouble getting motivated you are probably trying to do something that does not mesh with your values. You are going against the grain, so to speak. Even if it is something you used to enjoy. Remember, as you grow older, you change. That means values change too.
So think about your life right now. Are you happy? Are you doing what you want to do?
Or are you hanging onto something that no longer, or maybe never did, make you feel you are doing something important? Holding on to something just because you think you should is a sure-fire way to make yourself miserable. It might be a good idea to rethink this.
What are your values? How do you figure that out?
Start by making a list of each of the categories listed above. The sub-categories are suggestions. You can add your own.
For each category, write down at least one thing that is important to you. For example, under “Family”, you may write “Spending quality time with my wife/husband and children.” For “Finances” it could be regularly putting money in savings. It does not have to be complicated, but it does have to be what you find useful and worthy of your time.
Does your life reflect the things that are important to you? If not, what can you do this year to change?
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Thanks for reading!
December 30, 2016 © 2016 Resilient Medic