Uncover Your Values; Change Your Life.
Nov 20, 2023
"In the journey of self-discovery, embracing your values is the compass that directs you towards a life of purpose and fulfillment." - Steve Maraboli
Values are like a compass in life, the source of your purest motivation. Knowing your values is critical to moving forward in a way that feels right for you. They are the underlying force behind our decisions, shape the way we perceive the world, and influence the choices we make. However, lots of people are unaware of their values. This is because they live in the unconscious mind, operating beneath the surface of our daily thoughts and actions.
The Unconscious Mind
Imagine it to be like a silent orchestrator shaping our responses to the world, based on deeply ingrained beliefs and experiences. It stores a wealth of information that has accumulated over a lifetime, including cultural influences, early childhood experiences, and societal expectations.
To understand and harness the power of our values, we must peel back the layers of the unconscious mind. This requires a deliberate and reflective approach, as we bring light to the values that have been quietly influencing our choices and actions. By becoming more conscious of our values, we gain the ability to align our lives more closely with our authentic selves, fostering a sense of fulfilment and purpose that goes beyond the surface of our day-to-day routines.
Uncovering my Values
Uncovering my values changed the direction of my life. I had come to a point where I had been on the hamster wheel for so long, and had lost sight of who I was, who I wanted to be, what I wanted to do, questioning whether I would be best settling in a career that drained me, or whether to pursue what I really, deep down felt called to do.
Freedom is one of my core values, but when I reflected on the life I was living, there was little room for it. Freedom, to me, is the power to shape my own path, make authentic choices, and freely express myself. However, I had found myself in a career in which every minute of working my day was planned for me, there was a never-ending list of tasks I saw little purpose or value in that seemed to take up more and more of my time and energy, and creativity was encouraged, with limitations.
I would come home feeling drained and exhausted, counting down the days to the weekend or the next holiday. Of course, there were other values at play, the values that had originally motivated me into pursuing this career, but these could no longer stand up at the cost of freedom, for me.
Identifying my own values gave me clarity and confidence in my decision making at this pivotal point. What previously felt like paralysis around decision making became easy. Once I understood my values, I began to live in a way that felt truly aligned and noticed how the different areas of my life started to uplevel. I went from feeling stuck and hopeless to noticing feelings of joy, flow and freedom creep into my day-to-day life, and opportunities begin to present themselves as if by magic. That’s the thing about living in alignment; it can literally change your life.
Observe your emotions; they’re clues.
Values influence emotions. When they are met, you feel a sense of fulfilment, contentment, ease, and flow. Unmet, you may experience boredom, resentment, and frustration.
Tapping into your emotions can be a helpful clue about values you may have been honouring or betraying. For example, if you have values around honesty and you discover someone is being dishonest with you, you might find yourself reacting in a way that usually you wouldn’t, or that to others may seem disproportionate. This is because your honesty value has been activated, and values are what you are motivated by. They are the green or red flags you move towards or away from.
Untapped Potential
Since you are motivated by your values, they are a huge source of untapped potential. When you align your actions with your values, a sense of purpose and clarity emerges. This alignment becomes the catalyst for unlocking hidden talents, fostering personal growth, and navigating life with a sense of fulfilment. Values act as a compass, allowing you to direct your energy towards endeavors that not only resonate with your authentic self, but also contribute meaningfully to the world around you. Not only can you enrich your own life, but also create a positive ripple effect that extends beyond your individual sphere of influence.
Discover Your Values
Exploring your unconscious mind to uncover your values involves delving into your thoughts, feelings, and experiences on a deeper level. Here are some questions to guide you through this introspective process:
- What activities bring me a deep sense of joy and fulfillment?
- When do I feel most authentic and true to myself?
- What are the recurring themes in my most meaningful relationships?
- What activities make me lose track of time?
- What qualities do I admire in others?
- What are my non-negotiables in life?
- When have I felt a strong sense of moral or ethical conviction?
- What challenges or obstacles have I overcome, and what values guided me through them?
- If I had unlimited resources and could pursue any goal, what would it be?
- What legacy do I want to leave behind?
As you explore these questions, be patient and open-minded, allowing your unconscious mind to gradually reveal the values that resonate most deeply with your authentic self.
