Just like having a MAP* can be useful when we’re making career decisions, having clear values can be useful for decision-making in general.
Think of values as our compass. They can give us a general gist of which direction to take when faced with different options. They can also guide us in our behaviours and choices. For example, if positivity is more important to you than productivity, then that will determine how you relate to your colleagues at work.
Ultimately, if we know who we are at our core – what matters most to us in terms of how we want to be and behave – then we can have confidence in the choices we make by using values as a guide.
When we live by our goals (our doing), satisfaction can be short-lived. We strive towards a goal; achieve it; experience momentary pleasure; and quickly set our eyes on the next goal. Striving can soon outweigh enjoyment in this set up.
By contrast, when we focus on living by our values (our being) rather than our goals, we can find satisfaction no matter where we are in our goal-setting and achieving, provided we're living according to our values.
Values can also help us when we’re looking to define preferences and boundaries in regards to our work and relationships. We can loosen our grip on the goal-focused approach to life and find contentment in the here and now based on living according to our values and in a way that we’re happy with.
If you’d like to work with me to discover your values and make some decisions around how to move forward in any area of your life, then drop me a line.
*See previous blog post
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