Core Values: What matters to you?
Documenting, and regularly reviewing, your personal values is an important part of any self-development and healing journey.
The Introvert Healer Core Values 2024
Knowing what really matters to you helps you understand your ‘why’:
Why do some actions and events seem to trigger you?
Why are some behaviors and opinions more disappointing than others?
Why do you prioritize certain tasks or people above others?
Why you enjoy the activities you love?
All these ‘why’s help you answer the big ‘what’ we all have:
What is your life's purpose?
My current understanding of my life purpose is to facilitate powerful, positive transformation with energy healing.
This is why my first foray into evaluating my Core Values was related to discovering another Emotion Code website had copied large pieces of content directly from my website.
As I read my words being presented as another's, I considered the Emotion Code Chart and named each of the difficult sensations I felt: anger, shock, resentment and betrayal.
But why?
Essentially, this stranger had just acknowledged that my words resonated so deeply with them, they wanted to share it with their clients.
Why did that trigger me?
Because integrity is one of my core values.
It genuinely shocked me that a person who holds the same beliefs about healing as I do, would plagiarize my work.
I had innocently (or maybe ignorantly) assumed everyone in this line of work operated with the same set of values.
Which brings me to the topic of this blog:
Do you know your core values?
Your core values are:
what matters most to you;
ideas and concepts which inspire you;
how you would like to be seen, thought of and remembered.
How to Select Your Core Values
One of my favorite exercises in 'Train Your Brain for Success: Read Smarter, Remember More and Break Your Own Records' by Roger Seip, is from Chapter 13: The Basics of You Part 1: Your Personal Core Values.
Roger presents a list of over 100 words and asks the reader to feel in their heart, the meaning behind each word, to determine if the idea is important in their life.
Once you have your list (estimated to be between 15-30 out of the 100+ words) Roger provides guidance on how to narrow it down to a maximum of 7 core values, writing your definition of the word and how to rank your values by their priority.
When a tough decision is required, knowing the ranking of each core value will help you to weigh up the options and take the path which feels aligned with your heart’s true desires.
Once you have your values list, Roger recommends making several copies and placing them in obvious places where you will see them each day, to remind yourself of the person you truly are at your core.
My Core Values
When I first completed this exercise in 2022 my values were:
Love
Gratitude
Integrity
Happiness
Spirituality
Freedom
Abundance.
Two years later, after re-reading 'Train Your Brain for Success: Read Smarter, Remember More and Break Your Own Records' my values and definitions have (slighted) shifted.
1. Alignment
My definition of alignment incorporates integrity, love, gratitude, peace and spirituality. A desire and an intention to live a heart-centric life. Doing the right thing. Making the best choice for my highest good and the highest good for all.
2. Wellness
Striving for peak emotional, spiritual and physical wellness. Making choices and following practices which bring me peace, harmony and vitality.
3. Growth
Being curious and open to learning more. Seeking to understand and improve. Remaining neutral and asking for more information.
4. Joy
Not taking life so seriously. Choosing to look for the humor in the situation.
5. Abundance
Remembering that there is enough for everyone. I can celebrate other people’s successes, knowing that time and financial freedom are not limited. We are all worthy of an abundant life.
I like to keep my values as the lock screen wallpaper on my phone:
Seeing your list throughout the day helps to bring you back to center.
It pushes the difficult and disappointing situations out of your mind, and lets you focus on what really matters.
When to Review Your Core Values
If you are an entrepreneur, your personal values and your business values may slightly differ and require a second list.
An example I love is something Brendon Burchard often shares in Growth Day.
In business, Brendon values being bold - willing to take risks and confidently communicating his point - but he certainly doesn't want to apply that to his interpersonal relationships!
As we get older and our personal and professional circumstances change, our values and priorities also change.
You may like to start a New Year's day or even a monthly ritual of reviewing your values to make sure they are still the driving force in your life.
Do you need clarity?
If you’re feeling blocked from sitting with your thoughts long enough to select your Core Values, there may be limiting beliefs which are holding you back.
