Personal Core Values: The Power of Personal Values
Whether you realize it or not, your life is guided by a set of core
values. We all have a subconscious list of principles that steer us down
different paths of life; unfortunately most of us aren't fully aware
that they exist. Some may have been developed during difficult periods
of our life, and others may have been part of the generational package
we inherited from our caregivers. It's simply a matter of awareness.
Once you go through the process of identifying a specific set of values
you begin attracting people and situations that support that ideology.
When you're not given the opportunity to create a strong set of beliefs,
you adopt many of your childhood care giver's behaviors and
decision-making skills, whether good or bad, which ultimately become,
for lack of a better word, your patterns.
Values are often described as ethics, virtues, beliefs, guiding
principles, ideals and even a personal moral compass for which to live
life. Regardless of terminology they all share the same goal, which is
to provide: inner happiness; increased confidence; better
decision-making; fulfilling relationships; create balance; clearer
direction; and greater personal awareness. Core values act as rules or
criteria for all of your decisions and actions. They guide our
decision-making process and can range from how we choose our friends to
our charitable actions or to the level of honor we exhibit in difficult
situations. Our core values also cover all of the categories that define
your life such as personal, social, aesthetic, religious, political, and
health. They help us choose between good and bad, they support and help
establish our goals, they give us a sense of purpose, and help us define
work, friends, family and relationships. Values are every man's right
and privilege, they're non-denominational and do not adhere to any
specific religion, government or educational institution.
Historically, values have long been recognized as an important factor
to creating a happier, more fulfilling life. Great men from Aristotle to
Benjamin Franklin wholeheartedly believed in the development of personal
values. Thousands of years ago, the Greeks inscribed aphorisms, such as
'Know Thyself' and 'Nothing in Excess', in many spiritual locations.
Aristotle adopted these same philosophies and created 7 virtues that he
described as the 'mean' between good and bad excesses. At the age of 20,
Benjamin Franklin, one of the most revered men in American history,
crafted 13 values so that he could live a purpose driven life. These men
lived thousands of years apart and in completely different times, yet
shared the understanding that values helped them establish goals and
achieve a positive and healthy way of living.
Benjamin Franklin identified the following 13: Temperance; Silence;
Order; Resolution; Frugality; Industry; Sincerity; Justice; Moderation;
Cleanliness; Tranquility; Chastity; Humility
Aristotle identified the following 7 virtues: Courage; Temperance;
Liberality; Magnificence; Pride; Gentleness; Agreeableness;
Truthfulness; Wit
For decades, successful corporations have also been using values,
value statements, strategic planning, corporate vision and mission
statements. They keep all layers in the organization aware of long and
short-term goals, which let them communicate corporate ideologies. It
also gives them direction and creates cohesiveness among the staff, as
well as making sure that everyone is 'on the same page'.
So you see, establishing your own set of core values has many
benefits, including raising personal awareness, opening your eyes to the
world around you, and mostly helping you break some of those old
patterns, which you'll discover never defined you as a person anyway.
Check out our website it you'd like to learn how to identify your top 10
values.
Joseph Stuczynski is the author and founder of "Living and Loving
Well", a powerful method that develops one's core values as the basis to
creating positive life changes. Joe is also a PMI certified Project
Manager, with 10 yrs Info Tech exp in a Fortune 250 company.
Visit
http://www.livingandlovingwell.com for more information.
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