Streamlining Your Values List
If you’ve worked with me, it’s quite possible that we did a Values inventory. In that exercise I have people look at 8 Spheres of wellness including Spiritual, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual, Environmental, Financial, Social, and Emotional wellness. By looking at activities you’d be doing on your best day in each of these areas we are able to identify values that might have been missed if you just looked at a list.
Initially I didn’t think it could be possible to streamline my Top Ten Values into just 2 values, but after listening to Brené Brown with her sisters discuss how to ladder values into 2 Values, I got a little curious about whether this was possible, and I learned the benefit of narrowing my focus.
Here’s How It Works
Like many of you, remembering my Top 10 Values was a little difficult, and I struggled to find the best way to lean into them and ensure that I was actually letting my values be my guide in all my decisions and activities. So I gave it a whirl.
Initially my Top 10 Values (not in any order) were Faith, Authenticity, Balance, Responsibility, Impact, Connection, Creativity, Achievement, and Freedom. Yet after listening to that podcast about laddering your values under 2 Top Values…I spent time trying to see which values actually could be accounted for under another Value. To my surprise I was actually able to narrow down that list and the winners were Freedom and Impact.
Laddering Values
So here’s how this works. When I looked at the word Freedom I was able to identify that this word represented Financial Freedom, Time Freedom, Freedom to play and rest, and Freedom to let go of my To Do List and stay balanced. It also worked for Freedom to make connection a priority, to be authentic and brave regardless of what other people thought, and to embrace creativity without judgment. Freedom also included my Faith and the ability to break away from organizational rules in order to follow a way of life that was more in alignment with inclusion and loving everyone…like Jesus did.
When I looked at the word Impact, I could ensure I leaned into growth, learning, inclusion, achievement, giving back to others, and making a difference. My Faith also could be found in my value of Impact as my religious deconstruction process of what I was raised to believe allowed me to expand my knowledge of Faith. As a result I was able to reach more people who had a strong Faith but who had been ostracized, or made to feel they weren’t welcome or loved because of their alternative lifestyle.
Living in Freedom and Impact
I just returned from a great weekend in McCall with my hubby in our Airstream Van. For me, living in Freedom sometimes requires me getting out of the reach of my computer, internet, and into the great outdoors where I can restore my balance. This weekend we rode our mountain bikes on trails along the lake, enjoyed great food, connected with other campers and engaged in great conversations, and even played 12 rounds of Mexican Train (Domino game). It rained all day Saturday, so we were forced to get creative and find a way to embrace fun, laughter, joy, and connection while huddled under our RV awning at a table while the rain poured down around us.
I hope this entry has an impact on you and helps you look to streamline your values and condense them into 2 Values that really drive you and guide you to live your most authentic life.
