Written by: Gloria Sloan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
For many of us, this is the time of year that connects our values to traditions and meaningful experiences. Values will be the guiding compass that navigates us through our experiences in formality and style. Such connections can bring us together in unity with those we love and care about to express our gratitude and appreciation for them. It is also a good time to teach values with active undertakings revealing the power of your values.
Everyone has values and some people are more aware of how important their values are than others. Your values help form the foundation of your life that will influence your decisions and they are needed in almost every imaginable situation. The relationships that you have with others are primarily centered around your values for guidance and motivation. Our values are important because they are instrumental to our growth and development. They help us to create the future we want to experience.
Most of us follow or choose to carry on with the values that we grew up with and internalized as a child. The positive attributes and role of family members serve as empowering factors. We all have our own personal dominate values developed through society like good and bad, right, and wrong. These are beliefs and views that are widely shared among multiple cultures and can stem through family, religious organizations, workplace, institutions, and media sources. We learn to live by the values we accept or until we uncover the ones that are vitally important to us. Values matter because we are more likely to feel better living in accordance with them.
Over the past two decades, researchers have shown how enduring influence can shape cultural values. They were able to trace differences in personalities to early childhood. The broad societal values influenced by how parents raise their children were explored to study how different parenting styles shape the behavior of children. The differences in this study are not surprising because our values are generated early, and we individualize them as we grow and develop. Integrity, empathy, resilience, gratitude, and lifelong learning are among the foundational principles deeply ingrained and integral to our identity.
Our values have a long-lasting impact on the most important decisions we will make in life. Think about the people you were first to ask for a personal reference when applying for a job or some other formal request. It could be someone you have known for years or for a short period of time, how they view your values is what will matter the most. Ethical values have an important role in those recommendations. Ethics and moral principles will govern what you determine is right, your values will determine what is important. People will remember both about you.
Recognizing how we live our values is an important approach to life skills that matter. Have you ever heard the saying? “People do business with people they like” or “People do business with people they like, know, and trust.” This is a popular saying among business circles that stands to be true in many situations. Being valuable to them is also important because your reputation has value. Parameters are formed in choosing how we live and our personal connections, making our values essential to this process. Intentional living allows us to be more in alignment with our values and, therefore, deliberate in our preferences and associations. It is about living a life that is true with values sculptured in the lifestyle that you want to live.
The role of values is often observed in people with leadership positions. It is what they say and do that puts their character in public view when using guiding principles. Leaders facilitate others to make a positive difference that contributes to a greater good. If you have ever had to direct a group, coordinate a team effort, manage an organization or be the leader of any important tasks, your values were important and mattered. The one main thing in influencing others when leading by example is to remember that people are always watching and listening. Using the power of your values will help to sustain a level of clarity and understanding.
One of the most powerful life skills tools that you have is the power of your values. People are drawn to and engage with personalities that are wholesome, leaving them with a good feeling of respect and appreciation. According to an ergonomics scientific study of human interactions, values are the fundamental component of our psychological make-up that motivates our actions or cause reactions Source. An article in Psychology Today Source, defines a value as an enduring belief upon which a person acts. Values are similar to attitudes and beliefs in that they can be cognitive, emotional, and behavioral. Research suggests that our values are more long-lasting than either beliefs or attitudes.
A personal value for me is humanity, a guiding light from my father who believed in the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). As I grew into adulthood, my wisdom aligned with my beliefs to embrace and cultivate core values. It was a welcomed path to finding my purpose and fulfillment in life. Values have various roles in human development and come from many sources. Some values have greater impact or give different levels of support. They help us to set priorities in life and become the reason behind our choices.
Identifying your core values can increase your confidence and help in making decisions because you know if a decision aligns with your values. Knowing your values can help with achieving goals and, perhaps most importantly, help you to improve personal relationships that build a better rapport with others. How would you identify your values? To get started think about who you are and how you live. Consider your beliefs and the things that are most important to you. Values can be determined based on your experiences, your approach to making decisions, factors that have contributed to your feelings, memorable events, and what gives you happiness.
Knowing your values, you will discover what is profoundly important to you. Your values show up in the way you live, work, and play. Values are the roots that keep you grounded to grow towards becoming your best authentic self. They are capable of powerfully influencing our emotional state of mind.
Embark on the threshold of a new year by defining your values. Reflect on your experiences and create a list that resonates with you to select values that describe your feelings and behavior. To get you started, here is a list of personal values to consider. Be specific as possible and authentic to you.
Honesty
Compassion
Justice
Loyalty
Wealth
Love
Faith
Kindness
Achievement
Learning
Health/Fitness
Patience
Achievement
Perseverance
Trust
Forgiveness
Courage
Service
Review and prioritize your list, then put it into practice. Remember, values can change as your career and personal life develops.
If you would like help on ways to identify your values for personal development or professional growth, please contact me here or visit here for more information.
Gloria Sloan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gloria Sloan is an inspiring leader in personal and professional development. Sloan’s life was transformed when she aligned her habits with self-knowledge that optimized her productivity, business, and personal growth. Her insights and strategic management style vividly promotes fulfillment in life. She is CEO of Personal Dynamics, Inc., author, life coach, and speaker. She offers practical successful approaches to elevate and motivate greatness using essential life skills and applied knowledge.
