A Note on Aligning with your Values

Let’s talk about values for a second.

Values are personally chosen life directions. They are your inner compass.

Values are what makes you, you. It’s what we hold to be true and sacred for our lives, and it’s what makes us unique from others. Once you’re able to define your own set of values, you can use them much like a compass or the North Star in creating a life that is not only authentic, but one that lights you up. Your values will quite literally lead the way. Especially when you are feeling lost or confused about your direction or next steps, your values are what you can lean into for guidance.

Check in with your values when making decisions. Does it align or conflict with your values? And then, make your choices accordingly. It seems surprisingly simple and obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many people (including myself. Especially myself!) have trudged forward with decisions and choices, knowing full well it didn’t feel right, and didn’t once stop to check in if said choice was aligned with the things they valued.

One simple value for me is living by the ocean and getting enough time in nature. For me, this value brings me so much joy, pleasure and a sense of peace that I need access to in my life.

So a simple change? I decided to find a new job and move to a beach town. Now I’m 2 blocks from the ocean and enjoy watching the sunrise every morning before work. It might seem like a small or obvious change to some, but because of its value to me, it has greatly impacted my quality of life in a positive way.

If you’re having a hard time defining what your values are — fear not!! I’ll have a blog post coming up soon with an exercise how to define your values, and narrow down the ones that are truly important. And I’ll be sharing mine as well! But for now I’ll leave you with some questions to ponder: