Who are you – really?
Who’s programming your GPS?
If you’re not already there, it’s high time to put yourself in the driver’s seat and choose the direction of your life. Learn how to let your own values lead the way.
Take a second and think of how many decisions you make every day. I’m guessing you don’t even consider most of them decisions. But they are! Everything from at what time your alarm goes off in the morning to what clothes you put on, what you have for breakfast, what music you listen to one your way to work, how you greet your colleagues – you get the point. All of these decisions ultimately make up the experience that is your life.
Choosing death metal of Beethoven doesn’t really create the same vibe. Nor does working as a stockbroker give the same experience as being a yoga teacher. Again – you get the point.
The important thing here is not the decisions per se. It’s who is doing the deciding. Is it really you? There’s only one way to find out. It’s time to get in touch with your values.
Living a Life Guided by Your Values
The thing with values is that they are the drivers behind our every decision whether they are our own, somebody else’s or our society’s. And not only do they guide our behavior in various areas of our lives, but they also define our relationships and shape our identities by representing what we consider important, desirable, and meaningful. Knowing your own, true values means being in charge and getting in the driver’s seat of your life. Are you ready to reprogram your GPS?
The journey starts on Memory Lane
Get cozy and identify a moment in your past when life felt especially rewarding or poignant. Maybe you felt a strong sense of purpose, resonance, or flow. Allow yourself to really indulge and relive this moment as clearly and with as much detail as you can. Now, ask yourself:
What about this experience was satisfying?
What about this experience felt important?
What were you doing, and who were you being?
What themes emerge as you remember this time?
What impact were you making?
What values were you honoring?
Pick your darlings and get going
Now, pick your top three values from your time on Memory Lane. Don’t overthink it, just go with comes to you in the moment. When you’ve got your three favorites, ask yourself:
How are you honoring each of these values in your life at the moment? (A scale from 1-10 can be helpful here.) What would it look like to honor each value at a 10? And what would it take to reach that level? Voilà – your new compass is in action!
Take the wheel and start driving
There’s no time like the present – especially not when it comes to living your best life. So, what can you do in the upcoming weeks to honor each of your values a little bit more?
When you know what to do, don’t let yourself off the hook! It’s easy to get distracted when life happens. Make sure you find a way to honor this amazing commitment to yourself. Maybe by putting everything in your calendar or asking a friend to call and check up on how you’re doing on a regular basis. Only you know what floats your boat!
