Do you ever feel unfulfilled? Like your plate is full, you’re doing all the things, but still you’re longing for something more, for something different? Is your core yearning for something with which you just don’t reside?
If that’s your situation, have you considered whether your daily actions align with your values?
If you practice being aware of your own thoughts and feelings instead of solely listening to the pressures and voices of others, what do you recognize as the people, things, and ideas that are most important to you?
What truly matters to you?
When we are aware of our values (the people, things, activities, and ideas that are most important to us), we are able to make choices that align with those values. When we expend the effort for our choices and actions to correspond with our values, our lives begin to take shape in congruence with them.
Perhaps, the more we align in thought and action with those values, the more natural this awareness and structuring becomes. Perhaps, from a place of awareness and congruence, we can find more peace. Perhaps alignment can alleviate some of the stress, burnout, or dissatisfaction we have experienced. Perhaps contentment can be found in a life that embodies who we truly are and what we truly love. Perhaps the key is learning to be aware of and honest with ourselves, in both identity and in action.
Some questions to ponder along the way:
How is this impacting me?
What is influencing me in this choice?
How do I feel?
How am I experiencing this?
Do I feel hesitation about this decision? Why or why not?
Is this important to me? Why or why not?
Learning to recognize our values is a journey in and of itself, and learning to make choices that align with our values is a skill that requires both intention and practice. Sometimes getting assistance from a counselor can help the journey seem less daunting and more realizable. Learning self-awareness and identifying values are great feats, and they are worth every bit of the effort.
Writing by Merrell Miles Westerman, Intern
Photo by Jack Sparrow from Pexels
