Living your life more in tune with your values

Values, we hear a lot about these and how important they are, however after speaking to my clients carving out time to think about them is not that easy!

It’s been a while since I looked at my values, summer is a busy time with the kids off school and certain parts of my self-care can go out of the window. When September hits I feel a bit out of sorts, unbalanced and overwhelmed after been pulled in so many different directions over the holidays. I find a value check in a great way to get me back on track and I’m sure it would benefit some of you as well!

So -what are values? Values are what you consider to be most important in your life. They shape the way you think, what you say and the way you act. They determine your priorities and are a good guide for you to check if life is turning out the way you want. If you feel aligned to your values, then life will feel ok. If not, then you may feel unhappy.

Below is a list of values and how to work out what yours are. This is also a great exercise to do with your kids (using child friendly words of course!) or with your girl tribe 😊 I’ve included a list to help you get going with this too. It could be something that you do just for yourself or as a family. Your choice!

Knowing what your values are can give you direction and help you make important life decisions. REMEMBER – Values can change depending on the season of your life and that’s perfectly normal! In fact, I think it’s important they do change as you progress through life. 

Before you pick your 10 most important values, look back at your life and try to think about when you felt good? What was happening, where were you, who were you with? 

When in life did you feel fulfilled and satisfied? And again, what was happening, where were you, who were you with?

For me it’s when I’ve been on day trips with family, travelling to new places, being on holiday, trying something different, connecting with my children, achieving a goal, personal growth and supporting my clients to reach their goals. 

Here are some values to help you get started –

Once you’ve picked 10 then go through your list and get firm and focused! This part might take a bit longer so get comfy, make a brew and get honest and real with yourself.

Narrow it down to 5 of the most important things to you, and now you have a blueprint to follow when it comes to making decisions. 

Review your list daily, weekly or monthly and spend a few minutes thinking if you have lived your life in line with your values. Pin it on the fridge, wardrobe or anywhere you will see it regularly. 

If your values have taken centre stage, then amazing well done! If they haven’t then that’s important information you can use going forward. It gives you a clearer picture on where you need to prioritise. 

Here is a list of some child friendly values however there are lots on the internet to use 😊

Doing this exercise is a great way to connect with your kids, learn more about what makes them tick and shows them that you are interested in what’s important to them. All round winner!

So – Let me know what small change you can make today that will have you living your life more in tune with your values?

If you would like support with this then please drop me an email at info@cheriseainleycounselling.co.uk or via the contact form on this website.