Live Your Truth A Practical Guide to Aligning with Your Values

Living authentically is a journey, not a destination. It's about making conscious choices that reflect who you are at your core. This blog post provides a practical guide to help you uncover and live by your core values, leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Understanding Core Values

Core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your behavior and decision-making. They represent what you stand for and believe in. They act as an internal compass, providing direction and meaning. When your actions align with your values, you experience a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction. When there's a disconnect, you may feel unfulfilled, stressed, or lost. These deep-seated principles act as a moral compass, providing clarity and direction, and can bring a sense of fulfillment.

Values come in many forms. Some common examples include integrity, compassion, creativity, courage, growth, family, and security. It's important to recognize that your personal values are unique to you, shaped by your experiences, upbringing, and beliefs.

Identifying Your Values

Discovering your core values requires introspection and self-reflection. Several exercises can make it easy to begin identifying your core values.

Here are some ways to identify them:

• Reflect on Peak Experiences: Think about times in your life when you felt most alive, fulfilled, or proud. What values were you honoring in those moments?
• Consider Moments of Anger or Frustration: What situations make you feel angry, frustrated, or upset? Often, these emotions arise when a core value is being violated.
• Values Clarification Exercises: Explore a comprehensive list of values, and circle the ones that resonate most strongly with you.
• Think About Who Inspires You: By contemplating the people who inspire you, you can identify the positive qualities and characteristics that you appreciate in other people, which may reflect the values you hold dear.
• Think about meaningful moments: Reflect on the highlights of your life and the factors that contributed to their significance. Maybe you felt a strong sense of purpose when your purpose in life was apparent, or when you graduated college.

Prioritizing Your Values

While you may identify with many values, it's crucial to prioritize them. You can't live up to all values all the time. Focus on the three to five values that are most important to you – your non-negotiables.

Brené Brown, a renowned researcher on vulnerability and authenticity, emphasizes the importance of narrowing down your values to just a few core principles. In her work Dare to Lead, she suggests that having too many values dilutes their impact. Prioritizing helps create a clear and actionable guide for decision-making. You only have one set of values, and you must take your values from a general idea and put them into practice by taking action. To start the process, try ranking or grouping your identified values. You might find it easier to compare values, for example if faced with only one, which would you select?

Creating Value-Driven Actions

Identifying and prioritizing your values is just the first step. The real transformation happens when you translate those values into concrete actions and goals.

Consider these examples:

• If "Creativity" is a core value: Dedicate 30 minutes each day to a creative pursuit, such as writing, painting, or playing music.
• If "Family" is a core value: Schedule regular family dinners, plan weekend outings, or make time for meaningful conversations with loved ones.
• If "Growth" is a core value: Commit to learning a new skill, reading a set number of books per year, or taking an online course.
• If "Generosity" is a value: Start giving to organizations or people.

The key is to be specific and intentional. Vague aspirations are less likely to translate into lasting change.

Overcoming Value Conflicts

Life often presents situations where your values may clash. For example, a demanding career (valuing achievement) might conflict with your desire to spend more time with family (valuing connection).

When faced with value conflicts:

1. Acknowledge the Conflict: Recognize that a conflict exists and identify the specific values involved.
2. Seek Creative Solutions: Explore options that might satisfy both values, even partially. Can you find a compromise or a "third way?"
3. Prioritize (Again): If a perfect solution isn't possible, revisit your prioritized values. Which value is most important in this specific situation?
4. Communicate with compassion: If faced with value conflicts with other people, communicate mindfully.

Navigating these conflicts with conscious awareness is essential for maintaining your integrity.

Maintaining Value Alignment

Aligning with your values is not a one time fix, it is an ongoing process of growth. Here are ways to create lasting change.

• Self-Reflection: Regularly reflect on your actions and decisions. Are you staying true to your values? Are there areas where you're falling short?
• Mindfulness: Practice being present in the moment. This helps you make conscious choices aligned with your values, rather than reacting impulsively.
• Adjust as Needed: Life changes, and so might your values. Be open to revisiting and refining your core values as you grow and evolve.
• Journaling: Keeping a journal can be a powerful tool for strengthening your resolve to put your values into practice.
• Stay Flexible: Because your values can change with time, it is wise to stay flexible.

Living in alignment with your core values is a journey, not a destination. It requires ongoing effort, self-awareness, and a willingness to adapt. The rewards, however, are immeasurable. By choosing to live your truth, you create a life of greater purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

WonderSage can help you design personalized exercises in your own book to ensure that you are taking tangible steps towards living by your values, week after week.