09 Apr What are values? What are your values?

After my last week’s post A simple formula to create the life you desire. I got asked few times, What are values? and How do I find my own values?

To put it simply, values are everything. Values are like the chosen direction of your life. Below is the extract on Values from my  Stop Struggling, Start Thriving workshop worksheet.

What are values?

• ‘Desired qualities of ongoing action’
• Heart’s deepest desires for how you want to behave
• How you want to treat anyone or anything
• What kind of person do you want to be?
• Can usually be said in one or two words

What are your values?

Below are some common values. (They are not ‘the right ones’; merely common ones.)
Please read through the list and write a letter next to each value, based on how important it is to you: V = very important, Q = quite important, and N = not important.

Acceptance/self-acceptance: to be accepting of myself, others, life, etc.

Adventure: to be adventurous; to actively explore novel or stimulating experiences

Assertiveness: to respectfully stand up for my rights and request what I want

Authenticity: to be authentic, genuine, and real; to be true to myself

Caring/self-care: to be caring toward myself, others, the environment, etc.

Compassion/self-compassion: to act kindly toward myself and others in pain

Connection: to engage fully in whatever I’m doing and be fully present with others

Contribution and generosity: to contribute, give, help, assist, or share

Cooperation: to be cooperative and collaborative with others

Courage: to be courageous or brave; to persist in the face of fear, threat, or difficulty

Creativity: to be creative or innovative

Curiosity: to be curious, open-minded, and interested; to explore and discover

Encouragement: to encourage and reward behavior that I value in myself or others

Excitement: to seek, create, and engage in activities that are exciting or stimulating

Fairness and justice: to be fair and just to myself or others

Fitness: to maintain or improve or look after my physical and mental health

Flexibility: to adjust and adapt readily to changing circumstances

Freedom and independence: to choose how I live and help others do likewise

Friendliness: to be friendly, companionable, or agreeable toward others

Forgiveness/self-forgiveness: to be forgiving toward myself or others

Fun and humor: to be fun loving; to seek, create, and engage in fun-filled activities

Gratitude: to be grateful for and appreciative of myself, others, and life

Honesty: to be honest, truthful, and sincere with myself and others

Industry: to be industrious, hardworking, and dedicated

Intimacy: to open up, reveal, and share myself, emotionally or physically

Kindness: to be kind, considerate, nurturing, or caring toward myself or others

Love: to act lovingly or affectionately toward myself or others

Mindfulness: to be open to, engaged in and curious about the present moment

Order: to be orderly and organized

Persistence and commitment: to continue resolutely, despite problems or difficulties.

Respect/self-respect: to treat myself and others with care and consideration

Responsibility: to be responsible and accountable for my actions

Safety and protection: to secure, protect, or ensure my own safety or that of others

Sensuality and pleasure: to create or enjoy pleasurable and sensual experiences

Sexuality: to explore or express my sexuality

Skilfulness: to continually practice and improve my skills and apply myself fully

Supportiveness: to be supportive, helpful and available to myself or others

Trust: to be trustworthy; to be loyal, faithful, sincere, and reliable

Other: ______________________________________________________________

Other: ______________________________________________________________

May be I’ll keep providing resources about Values for next couple of weeks. What you say? Please respond in comments.

Would you add any personal experiences, where you realised value of time?