PERSONAL VALUES - CORE OF YOUR MISSION STATEMENT

Your personal values are the core of your Mission Statement. Before you can provide a statement of who you will be, what you will stand for, what you will not compromise, what is really important to you and defines you, you need first identify what they are.

Roy Posner writes, "A value is a belief or a mission or philosophy that is meaningful." At Senecac.ca you find this statement, "Values are ideals that guide your personal conduct, interaction with others and involvement in your career."

Merriam-Webster dictionary describes Personal Values as "...something (as a principle or quality) intrinsically valuable or desirable"

An editorial in Simple Motivation magazine opened with "If you and I were sharing a cup of coffee right now I'd ask you point blank, 'Do you love your life?'..." The author closes the paragraph with "...I'd want to have a conversation directly with your soul. The part of you that might admit in a tiny voice, 'I know I'm not living my life on purpose...I've lost a sense of what really makes my heart sing.'"

Therein lies the delusion. To 'live on purpose' suggests you have, know, understand, appreciate what your purpose or personal mission is.

That's right, what is the life you desire to live - not the life you are currently living. The person you want to be is the pivot in this life equation. It is not who someone wants you to be but who you are determined to be.

And yes, determination is essential. Why? Because you will discover your core values to be tied to the essence of a truth you learned when you were very young - the difference between right and wrong. The essence of who you are will not allow you to live confidently, comfortably, compassionately in opposition to what you know is wrong.

So, what are your core personal values? Answer - what are the four, five, or six single or two word combinations that your very closest confidant or friend would use to describe what is most important to you. They are the handful of words that, if stripped of everything else, you would not, could not, sacrifice, give up, let slide, without feeling awkward or unfulfilled.

Sounds easy enough. Four, five, or six words describing what you believe, what you stand for - personal values. Imagine, a handful of words outlining the foundation for the life you desire to live. The sample core values list includes Family, Well Being, Work, Personal Growth. For a longer list of words, click on the Info Request tab and email me for a FREE list of words to help you get started.

Next, find a quiet space. Arm yourself with pen, paper, and this list. Reflect on where you are in your life today, does it match who you want to be, ask yourself "Am I comfortable with me and the life I have been living?" Mediate on it. Don't rush yourself for answers. Truly and sincerely listen to your self-talk. It is all about you. Now, using the list as a prompt, identify the four, five, six words that best describe your personal values.

Remember, core Values are the foundation, the basis of all that will follow. This is the beginning of your Mission Statement. You do not need to share it with anyone today or ever. Of course, how you choose to live will reflect what is truly important to you, won't it. And how you go about living is what others see. So, in reality, although people might not read what you have written, they will see the essence of who you are through your actions, interactions, and behaviors. You can make this a positive journey. No matter where you are today, everyone starts with a clean sheet of paper. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, and every day after that is a new day, a new beginning, a new opportunity to grow into the person, the life, you want to be.

The next "V" is Vision. Once you have a working list of personal Values you need to determine the purpose of each. The journey gets better. Stay focused and you will be pleasantly surprised at how well it all comes together. In many ways you are working on a constitution for the world of YOU. Exciting, isn't it. Yet, there is truly a sense of trepidation. That's okay. Sail on.

Move on to Vision



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