Values are uncompromisable, undebatable truths that drive and direct how we live.

Values give us a why, they set boundaries, and they motivate us. Consistent values lead to consistent effectiveness over time. Lasting values create lasting success, right? YES!

Values give us the confidence to face the circumstances of life. Our values shape and guide our decisions. The confidence we gain from solid values gives us emotional and spiritual stability. Consistent values allow you to lead your life, not react to it!

What values drive who you are?
Your first priority is to integrate lasting values into your personal and professional life, write them down, look at them daily, build your life on them.

TODAY

If you look at our current culture for your values you will be confused by self-interest, social conditioning, and situational ethics. The values of our culture are shallow and subjective, especially when it comes to moral values. It is one thing to know the right thing to do and quite another to consistently do it. Before you can have any values, you have to know who and what you believe in.

What do you believe at the core of who you are?
Until you define this, you are a car without a steering wheel and every decision or outcome will be difficult, if not impossible until your core values are clear. But when your values are clear, you will be amazed at how simple life gets, all because you decided to stand for what you believe and grab the steering wheel. Your core values are your foundation for life, the quicker you set them, the quicker stability will come.

Our values drive our behavior, which makes it is easy to understand that we will always chase what we love. So, what do you love and where do you spend your time?

Our values drive our actions, so then, right or wrong and good or bad are only words until we add intention. Right things done for the wrong reasons are still wrong. You can adjust your actions by simply asking yourself, “Why?” This question is something we tend to drift away from, but can quickly bring us back to center. Answering why will always bring you back to one of your core values.

When you ask yourself, “why?” Does it lead to a good value or bad value?

You need to ask yourself, “why” on a regular basis to make yourself think about what values are driving your actions. What tends to happen, is we make decisions based on what is convenient, not what we believe. The more consistently you can align your values with your goals, the more successful you will be.

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR VALUES?

No one has ever found a way to improve anything in any way without changing it somehow! That means you must be open to change. Creating or finding your values can be freeing and gratifying if you are truthful, and will make the adjustments to living based on what you believe.

The First Thing you need to do is simple.

Take 10 to15 minutes to get quiet, sit still, and think of what is weighing on you, whether it be past decisions, what you’re waiting on, or what you had for lunch.

Identify what doesn’t need to be there, make a point to get rid of it and follow through!

Write down who and what matter to you.
What place do they have in your life? Prioritize them.

What do you want from or out of them? Write it down.

What is your strongest conviction? Identify it, it has something to do with why you are alive!

Where do you fit? You must get to a place where you can appreciate and love who you are. If not, you won’t be able to do it for anyone or anything else.

Simple doesn’t always mean easy, it will take time, diligence, consistency, and saying no to convenience. but every time you say, “NO” to convenience, you are saying yes to who you are at your core.

At the end of the day, your confidence, strength, and success come from your values. When you feel weak, inconsistent, alone, or like you are not gaining ground, it is typically when you don’t know why you are doing it, Without a why we all lack direction, which links directly to our values and who we are.

HOW TO IMPROVE

The following lists of values will help you develop a clearer sense of what’s most important to you in life.

YOUR SOURCE OF VALUES

Family, Friends, Spiritual Life, Economy, Environment, Geography, Media, and Education.

TWO TYPES OF VALUES

There are several types of values, The two you need to know are, terminal and instrumental.
Terminal Values: Deal With Life Long Goals, What You Would Like to Achieve in Your Lifetime.
Instrumental Values: These govern our Modes of Behavior or the ways we achieve our Terminal Values.

TERMINAL VALUES                                              

• Comfort
• Prosperity
• Excitement
• Accomplishment
• Peace
• Opportunity
• Security
• Freedom
• Happiness
• True Love
• Pleasure
• Salvation
• Self-Esteem
• Recognition
• Real Friendship
• Wisdom

INSTRUMENTAL VALUES

• Ambitious
• Open Minded
• Capable
• Cheerful
• Clean
• Courageous
• Forgiving
• Helpful
• Honest
• Creative
• Independent
• Intellectual
• Logical
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Loving

THE VALUE BATTLES WE FACE DAILY

• Tradition VS Innovation
• Quantity VS Quality
• Correct VS Convenient
• Long-Term VS Short Term
• Past VS Present VS Future
• Individualism VS teamwork
• Avoidance VS Acceptance
• Control VS Submission
• Need VS Want

Everything Great has a great value to it. Don’t discount the importance of what they mean to your personal success.

Find Them. Build Them. Stand On Them. Good Luck!

REFERENCES:

Leadership: A Communication Perspective. By: Michael Hackman & Craig Johnson

Matthew Chapter 6
Psalm Chapter 119
Psalm Chapter 103