Understanding and embracing our core values can bring profound clarity and direction to our lives.
Why Core Values Matter
Core values are the guiding principles that shape our decisions, behaviour, and interactions. They’re the inner compass that helps us stay true to ourselves, especially when life gets challenging. Knowing our core values is like having a personal GPS—it helps us navigate life’s decisions, align with our true selves, and live authentically.
Brene Brown and Core Values
Brene Brown, a renowned researcher and author, emphasises the power of core values in living a wholehearted life. According to her, core values are
“the beliefs and principles that guide us in how we live and how we interact with others.”
They’re not just buzzwords but deeply held beliefs that influence everything from handling conflict to setting boundaries.
The Theory of Basic Human Values
In addition, Shalom Schwartz's The Theory of Basic Human Values identifies ten essential universal values across cultures. These include values like "security," "stimulation," "tradition," and "benevolence." Schwartz’s theory helps us understand how our core values might align with these broader categories, giving us a framework for exploration.
Why Should You Care?
Understanding your core values is crucial because it:
1. Enhanced Self-Awareness: It helps you understand what truly matters to you, leading to a more fulfilling life.
2. Improved Decision-Making: Clear values make decisions easier and more aligned with your authentic self.
3. Strengthened Relationships: When you’re clear on your values, you communicate better and form deeper connections with others.
4. Enhanced Resilience: You are better equipped to handle challenges and setbacks when you are grounded in your core values. Knowing that you act according to your beliefs can provide strength and resilience.
5. Stronger Relationships: Living aligned with your core values can help you build more robust and meaningful relationships. You attract people who appreciate and respect your authenticity when you are true to yourself.
6. Increased Authenticity: Understanding your core values allows you to be more authentic and genuine in your interactions with others. This can lead to a greater sense of self-worth and self-esteem.
Actionable Steps to Discover Your Core Values
Ready to uncover your core values? Here’s a simple, actionable approach:
1. Reflect on Your Life’s Highlights: Think about times when you felt deeply fulfilled or proud. What values were being honoured during those moments?
2. Consider Your Role Models: Who do you admire, and why? Admiration often reflects our core values.
3. Identify Your Values: Use tools like Brene Brown’s core values list or Schwartz’s values framework to identify which resonate with you. Write down the top five values most aligned with your authentic self.
4. Create a Values List: Narrow your list to your top three core values. Be specific and clear about what each value means to you personally.
5. Evaluate Your Life: Look at different areas of your life—relationships, work, and personal growth. Are you living in alignment with your core values? If not, what changes can you make?
You can read about my journey to defining my core values here.
Example: A Values Discovery Journey
Let’s consider an example. Sarah, a yoga teacher, felt unfulfilled despite a successful career. By reflecting on her life’s highlights and role models, she identified her core values as “authenticity,” “compassion,” and “growth.” With this insight, she started incorporating more authentic practices in her teaching, connected deeply with her students, and pursued professional development aligned with her values. The result? A renewed sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Final Thoughts
Embracing your core values is a journey towards living a more authentic and fulfilling life. It’s like finding your true North and allowing it to guide you through life’s adventures. So, take a moment to connect with your values, and let them be your compass.
Yoga and Core Values: A Harmonious Connection
Yoga philosophy offers a framework for understanding and living in alignment with our core values. Through practices like meditation and mindfulness and ethical principles like ahimsa (nonviolence) and Satya (truthfulness), yoga encourages us to connect with our inner selves and discover our true nature. We can live more authentically and harmoniously by cultivating self-awareness and understanding our core values.
Here’s to living a heart-led life that is true to yourself and aligned with your deepest values.
We will explore this in Wednesday's Pause The Week session at The Midwives Circle and Wellness Centre in Kettering. You can still book a space online.
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