Here is a simple exercise to help you uncover your values
1. Making a list of all your responses, ask yourself the following question:
What is important to me in life?
Consider all aspects of your personal and professional life and write down whatever springs to mind.
What makes you feel happy? What is it that you most admire or identify with? If something makes you sad or angry, turn it around and decide what the opposite positive value would be.
Write down as many things as you can think of. Whatever comes to mind, jot it down, you can always make changes later. There is no need to write long sentences, values can usually be summed up in one or two words.
When compiling your list, push yourself past at least two sticking points. This means that when you come to a blank and can’t think of anything else, think a little deeper and write down what else comes to mind. Do this at least twice. Often it is not the first thing that comes to mind that is most important to us, but on deeper reflection something else underneath, that is more significant.
Make sure that you write down things that are important to you and not what you ‘think’ you should find important. Remember; these are your individual values not someone else’s.
Ask yourself why they are important to you.
Negations – “I don’t want to”
Necessity – “I should, have to, must”
Comparatives – “better, more, enough”
Values are positive. If you find yourself using red flags when you think of why it’s important, try flipping it around and look for the positive angle.
Click here to see a list of example values
2. Once you have your completed list, number them in order of importance to you. Don’t spend too long analysing them, do what comes into your head.
If you get stuck working out which is more important between one or two of your values use this simple technique to find out which means more to you.
Picture yourself standing on a platform about to board a train for a very long journey and you don’t know when you will be back. You have two suitcases and in each one is an individual value. You are only allowed to take one suitcase on your journey. Which one would you choose? Imagine; you may have one suitcase full of Honesty and the other Security. If you could only choose one; which one would it be. If you keep Honesty will that make you feel Secure? What is most important to you, that you cannot do without?
3. Once you have your clear list and their importance it can help you to understand what your values mean to you by thinking of how much you are working towards those values or actually pulling away from them.
Think of each value and mark each one with a percentage. What percentage are you working towards achieving this value and what percentage are you working against it. This will help you to identify areas that need improving.
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If you would like to explore your values more fully or change aspects of your personal and (or) working life, find out more or discuss your needs then contact me and take advantage of a free no obligation trial session where we can have a chat, and you can experience my style of coaching to see if it is right for you.
