Everyone’s got values.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know what they value until they either reflect on it or work with someone to identify their core values. And I say this from my experience as a coach.
It’s okay not to know what your values are. But exploring what they are is a worthy pursuit should you choose to live a remarkable life.
Thankfully, getting started isn’t complicated. Just know that every value has a virtue that you admire the most. So, if you appreciate the virtues of being bold, brave, and fearless, then clearly, you value “courage.” And this should be evident from some of your behavioral traits as well.
As you can tell, the exercise is time-intensive. But the results are highly rewarding nonetheless.
After recognizing your core values, the next steps are what you’ll do for the rest of your life — keep them close, act on them, and live them. You’ve got to wear them on your sleeves so others can see. Who knows that might inspire them to find their values?
If you’re lost and can’t figure this thing out, follow the stoics and Marcus Aurelius, who noted that courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom are the values to live by. He even said, “If at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, truth, self-control, courage — it must be an extraordinary thing indeed.”
It’s a great blueprint to start with. It will help you find the others that will complete your life. There’s nothing more powerful a statement from a person who says, “this goes against my values,” or “I value… “
But you’ve got to know what you value to begin with.