Clarifying Values

Brene Brown defines a value as:

"A value is a way of being or believing that we hold most important. Living into our values means that we do more than profess our values, we practice them. We walk our talk - we are clear about what we believe and hold important, and we take care that our intentions, words, thoughts and behaviors align with those beliefs."

Dr. Russ Harris describes values as:

Values are not the same as goals. Values involve ongoing action; they are like directions we keep moving in, whereas goals are what we want to achieve along the way. A value is like heading West; a goal is like the river or mountain or valley we aim to cross whilst traveling in that direction. Goals can be achieved or crossed off, whereas values are ongoing.

• Naming our Values Brainstorm and write down all of the values that are important to you this can be between 10-15 values.

• Review the values that you wrote down and decide which two to three values are your core values around which everything else revolves.

Here are some questions that may help adapted from Dare to Lead by Brene Brown:

• Does this value help give me direction when I am feeling lost?
• Does this value give me a sense of purpose?
• Is this who I am when I am at my best?
• Is this a filter I use when I need to make tough decisions?

- Core values are those that you want to move toward. Make the decision to embody these values in the way you work and live. Think also about which values you want to move away from that dont bring you energy and joy. Write the values you want to move towards and the values you want to move away from.

Values that I move towards

Values that I move away from