Why Knowing Your Values Can Help You Find Direction in Life
- Brainz Magazine
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Orlaith O Brien, Health & Wellness Coach
Orlaith O'Brien is known for her realistic and easy-to-implement advice towards improving ourselves both physically & mentally. While initially her main focus was exercise and nutrition, she has now begun to transition towards mindset and self-development coaching with her clients, as it's usually our mind that holds us back the most.
So many of us these days feel lost and unsure of our next move. We want to live meaningful lives but struggle to identify what ‘meaningful’ really means to us. Understanding our values isn’t just some trending self-help buzzword; it is a powerful tool that can help you live a more fulfilling life.
What are values?
Our values are our internal compass. They guide our behavior, actions, and decisions. They're not based on things we would like to achieve on our life ‘to-do list,’ but run much deeper than that. They are ever-changing and ever-evolving, just like we are. They can be things such as love, connection, adventure, and honesty. Without us even realizing it, they shape our lives every day.
Why you’re feeling lost
For a long time, I never fully understood what values were. I was just going through the motions of life, but whenever it came to making a decision, I felt paralyzed and needed input from everyone around me on what I should do. It wasn’t until one day in 2023, when I spoke with a therapist, that the penny dropped. I had to truly think, What actually matters to me? That’s when things in my life started to change, not only on the outside, but also in how I was feeling on the inside.
The aha moment
When I identified my core values, love, family, and security, it was like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I suddenly had this overwhelming sense of relief, a feeling of certainty in what my next move should be, and confidence in making the right decision for me. Every decision eventually came around to asking myself, Does this align with my values? Does it truly align with me?
A value-driven life
When we live in alignment with our values, everything begins to make more sense—why things didn’t work out, why jobs didn’t feel right, and why making certain decisions didn’t sit well with me. When you know what is important to you at your core, your relationships become more genuine, the work you do becomes more fulfilling, your self-confidence improves, and you feel a sense of peace in knowing that you have made the right decision for you.
Where to find my values
Start by asking yourself, What’s important to me? Is it loyalty, security, adventure, friendship, success, or money? Reflecting back on times in your life when you felt the most happy, proud, or angered, looking back on the past, can help. It’s important to remember that our values can change. You might find that while adventure was important to you when you were younger, as you get older, you begin to value safety and security more. Let your values evolve as you evolve as a person.
Read more from Orlaith O Brien
Orlaith O'Brien is a leader in physical performance, personal development, and self-improvement. Having overcome mental obstacles in her personal life, she has managed to use those challenges as fuel to build mental resilience, uncover deeper layers of self-awareness, and push her physical limitations. She has since helped hundreds of women transform their bodies and minds, encouraging them to challenge themselves more and delve into things past surface level. With many different avenues to work with Orlaith, you’ll not be short on options to improve yourself, either.
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