What are values

Values can be described as things that are important to the way we choose to live and work.

When what you do matches your values then you are more likely to be happy and content. When they do not align you are more likely to feel disaffected and incongruent.

Why I wanted understand mine

A few years ago I was starting learning about minimalism and simplified living. Time and time again it came up in my reading that to be able to target my attention I would need to know my values. This would help me to say no to activities, or tasks, that did not fit my values. Giving me more time for the activities I want to do, and the people I want to be around.

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

I was also going through a huge shift in my work pattern, how my day was structured, and where I could choose to direct my energy.

Previously I had a tendancy to be scatter gun in my approach. I would say yes to as much as I could, which inevitably led to me over-stretching myself and breaking! My values were not conscious entities. They had been formed by my upbringing, pop culture and social norms. I had never formally thought about them.

Timing

As I write this the UK is in the grip of the COVID-19 lockdown. Some restrictions are being eased but this is going to be a long term adjustment.

There has been a lot of talk in my media channels about the impact of having so much of modern London (or any city) life stripped away. The freedom, the sense of space, time for self care, time to engage in passion projects. Just look at the huge wave of food growing and baking that has gripped the nation! But what do we want to go back to? What shall we keep from lockdown life?

Note; I fully realise that not everyone is finding lockdown overly positive, or relaxing, for a huge range of reasons.

I have been thinking a lot about what I might want to change going forward. The journey I’ve been through already to work out my values will help with this. However I hadn’t written about this process as yet. Hopefully it might help other people as we all emerge blinking into the light of the new world, when we are allowed into it!

Photo by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash

How I went about it

I found this post about values very practical in the steps needed from mindtools.com.

I worked my way though the 6 stages, making myself a spreadsheet to record my answers. Not trying and do it all at once. For me doing a couple of stages at a time was best. This helped to let things percolate.

Mr LGD engaged in a similar process, which worked for him. These helped with our joint intention setting and “relationship check ins”. See links below for more on these topics.

My values are not set in stone, they can be reviewed and refined as I grow and circumstances change.

My four core values are currently;

  • Self Care
  • Contribution
  • Relationships
  • Sustainability
Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash

These are used in my annual / monthly intention setting process (link below) and help me make decisions of all sizes.

Other sources of information

Everyone learns, and grows, differently. These are some organisations and bloggers I follow who discuss values.

The Minimalists – discuss values extensively and have developed a worksheet to help.

Action for Happiness – have loads of great resources including this values assessment questionnaire.

James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) – a big advocate of knowing your values.

MS Shift You Tube Channel – in this episode a nerophycologist discusses how to work out your values and the impact this can have on other areas of your life.

Relevant other posts of mine

Over to you…

Have you found any people or organisations talking about values in a way that resonates with you?