You can't get what you want in life until you know what it
is you want. And, you'll have a hard time knowing what you want, if you are not
clear about what your values are. You
see, if we were to ask you what you really want, what we are actually asking
is, "What do you value?"
Values are guides for daily living that influence your
thoughts, feelings, words and deeds.
They shape your personality and give direction to what would otherwise
be an aimless, purposeless life. Your
values are reflected in your goals, hopes, dreams, attitudes, interests,
opinions, convictions, and behaviour as well as in your problems and
worries.
Values are choices you make from the available
alternatives. Therefore, well-chosen
values require an open mind, because you can't choose freely if you don't know
what your options and consequences are.
Values are cherished and we fight to keep them because they mean so much
to us.
Finally, to be truly significant, values must move from
fantasy into reality and be acted upon.
They cause us to do something, so that we can get and keep what we prize
so highly.
What do you value in life? Have you spent much time thinking
about it? If not, we strongly suggest that you take time to do so. Start today.
Sit down and make a list of all your values.
Then make a list of all your life goals. Do they coincide? If not, maybe
you should re-define your goals to match your values, because it is more likely
that you will get what you want in life if you do.
