If you are not living in alignment with your core values, your life may feel out of sync, you may feel unsettled, uneasy, and on edge, but you can't put your finger on why you feel that way.
An exercise I learned first with a group of women where I used to live, and have since run across in slight variations, is about identifying your core values.
Take a few moments and write down 10 values you feel strongly connected to.
Let that list simmer for a couple of days, and then refine it to five values.
Then to three.
Then to one.
Then, look at your life through the lens of your core values. Take the six areas we discussed in the last post, and see if you are living your life in alignment with these values.
My top core value is freedom - others are honesty, loyalty, fidelity, and responsibility. I'd say these are my five core values. So, how do these jibe with my goals for 2018?
Finances - freedom and responsibility - getting out of debt gives me the freedom to really plan for retirement from my current day job. I am eligible to retire in 2020, and being both eligible and financially able to will be a weight off my shoulders. I like my job, and I may not retire in 2020, however just knowing I have the freedom to do so is enough.
Getting out of debt is the responsible thing to do. I have enough in my retirement account to pay off my current debt and leave my children with a tidy sum of money - and being more responsible with my finances will give me the freedom to enjoy my retirement.
The same is true of my health - and getting my blog books published may enhance my financial freedom and give me a second career.
So yes, all my goals for 2018 jibe with my core values.
Do yours? If not, what do you need to change in your life right here, right now, to move toward living your best life now - in alignment with your core values?
In future posts, we will discuss setting intentions, goals setting, and Manifestation Boards.
Until next time, Namaste!
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Sunday, July 19, 2015
MaXIMIze - Career - Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Position?
A friend of my dear friend discussed this in his blog a while back, and it seemed appropriate to address this month here, since we are focused on careers.
While I don't know that it is an allowable question in an interview in the public sector, it is something to consider when you are looking for that next position, particularly to ensure you are looking to move for the right reasons and not *just* for higher pay, bigger glory, or you really can't stand your current co-workers. These are all extrinsic reasons for doing something. To be successful in the long run, we need to stay focused on the intrinsic reasons.
When seeking to answer the question of why you are looking to leave your current position - particularly to answer it for yourself - consider the following:
How your current position does or does not fit in with your personal value system.
Whether or not your current position is aligned with your passion - the underlying drive that lights your fire and illuminates your path.
If perhaps - as I have in my current position - you've reached the summit of what you can truly accomplish in that position and are looking for your next mountain.
These are all intrinsic reasons for looking to move on.
Another one is seeing a need to be filled and believing you can fill it. That's how I ended up being a program and project manager for four years working a program I still believe in, even though I support a completely different project these days.
So, if you are looking to move to another position - or just, really, to leave the one you're currently in - I challenge you to consider, REALLY consider, why so you can answer the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?" - at least for yourself.
If you need coaching on how to take the Five Whys process and use it to really get at the heart of career change or change in other areas of your life, please contact me.
Until next time, Namaste!
While I don't know that it is an allowable question in an interview in the public sector, it is something to consider when you are looking for that next position, particularly to ensure you are looking to move for the right reasons and not *just* for higher pay, bigger glory, or you really can't stand your current co-workers. These are all extrinsic reasons for doing something. To be successful in the long run, we need to stay focused on the intrinsic reasons.
When seeking to answer the question of why you are looking to leave your current position - particularly to answer it for yourself - consider the following:
How your current position does or does not fit in with your personal value system.
Whether or not your current position is aligned with your passion - the underlying drive that lights your fire and illuminates your path.
If perhaps - as I have in my current position - you've reached the summit of what you can truly accomplish in that position and are looking for your next mountain.
These are all intrinsic reasons for looking to move on.
Another one is seeing a need to be filled and believing you can fill it. That's how I ended up being a program and project manager for four years working a program I still believe in, even though I support a completely different project these days.
So, if you are looking to move to another position - or just, really, to leave the one you're currently in - I challenge you to consider, REALLY consider, why so you can answer the question "Why do you want to leave your current position?" - at least for yourself.
If you need coaching on how to take the Five Whys process and use it to really get at the heart of career change or change in other areas of your life, please contact me.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
MaXIMIze - True Wealth
Today, I'm going to share some of what I've learned from Mark T. Rafter's book, The Wealth Manifesto.
Mark starts off strong from the get-go. In his introduction, he lays out these three steps to achieving your goals:
1. Creating/refining your intention. Once you have what true wealth and financial freedom means to you crystal clear in your mind, then you can move on to the next step…
2. Which is declaring your intention. Write down what true wealth and financial freedom means to you. Also, lay out your major goals in this area AND the steps you need to take to get to those goals. Which means the last step is…
3. Taking action. Begin taking the steps you need to take to reach the goals you've laid out.
Remember - how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
It is up to you to take those first steps toward true wealth and financial freedom.
In his book, Mark lays out what he calls "The Articles of the Wealth Manifesto." There are 14 articles in total, reminding us that wealth, true wealth, has to do with the quality of our lives as they relate to our personal values. Money is just a tool to use in garnering true wealth.
When we hone down to what our core values are in life, and live our lives in sync with those values, we tend to be happier and more content with ourselves and our lives, which equates to coming from a place of abundance rather than a place of lack.
Also, when we are living our lives in sync with our personal values, we are building our lives on a solid foundation rather then the shifting sands of society's values and mores.
In order to determine what your core values and principles are, you can go through the exercise laid out in this post from January 2014.
When we are sure of our footing, of our foundation, we can truly begin to grow, stretching ourselves to reach whatever goals we have set for ourselves.
True wealth begins by taking the first step - what step can you take right now toward living your best life now?
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
MaXIMIze - Overall Well-Being - Coming From a Place of Abundance
We started the year by looking at our Circle of Perception and the six segments that make up the circle.
Over the last few months, we've focused on our financial segment (April), our physical health segment (May), our spiritual health segment (June), our career segment (July), and our relationships segment (August).
Now we've come to the last segment of the circle - our overall well-being.
Over the course of the year so far, we've gone deep into ourselves to understand where our actions and reactions - or responses - come from in each of those areas. Now we bring that all together in order to look at and address our overall well-being.
Back in January, we talked about our core values and principles, and vetting our goals against them to make sure our actions were in alignment with those values and principles.
In February, we discussed identifying and assessing the roadblocks to our success, and increasing our awareness by moving from unconscious incompetence to conscious competence.
In March, we talked about getting back up when we fall off the wagon, developing our follow-through, working through fear, and doing the spring cleaning necessary so that we can grow our best lives now.
One of the ways we can aid the growth of our best life now is by coming from a place of abundance. I touched on that theme in all of our discussions, and the post that most sticks in my mind and reinforces this is the one from May on Self-Image!
Positivity is a conscious act, and one that must be practiced on a daily basis.
I'm sure many of you have seen, and may even have been tagged for, the exercise of coming up with three positive things in your life right now every day for the next seven days. If you are not already doing this, I challenge you to do so for the next week. You don't have to share and tag others to keep the exercise going, though...
What we focus on is what we bring into our lives.
What are you focusing on - the actual abundance already present in your life right here, right now, or the perceived lack in it?
Over the next few weeks, we will discuss Journaling, Balance, and Harmony & Sync.
Until next time - Namaste!
Over the last few months, we've focused on our financial segment (April), our physical health segment (May), our spiritual health segment (June), our career segment (July), and our relationships segment (August).
Now we've come to the last segment of the circle - our overall well-being.
Over the course of the year so far, we've gone deep into ourselves to understand where our actions and reactions - or responses - come from in each of those areas. Now we bring that all together in order to look at and address our overall well-being.
Back in January, we talked about our core values and principles, and vetting our goals against them to make sure our actions were in alignment with those values and principles.
In February, we discussed identifying and assessing the roadblocks to our success, and increasing our awareness by moving from unconscious incompetence to conscious competence.
In March, we talked about getting back up when we fall off the wagon, developing our follow-through, working through fear, and doing the spring cleaning necessary so that we can grow our best lives now.
One of the ways we can aid the growth of our best life now is by coming from a place of abundance. I touched on that theme in all of our discussions, and the post that most sticks in my mind and reinforces this is the one from May on Self-Image!
Positivity is a conscious act, and one that must be practiced on a daily basis.
I'm sure many of you have seen, and may even have been tagged for, the exercise of coming up with three positive things in your life right now every day for the next seven days. If you are not already doing this, I challenge you to do so for the next week. You don't have to share and tag others to keep the exercise going, though...
What we focus on is what we bring into our lives.
What are you focusing on - the actual abundance already present in your life right here, right now, or the perceived lack in it?
Over the next few weeks, we will discuss Journaling, Balance, and Harmony & Sync.
Until next time - Namaste!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
MaXIMIze - Finances - Recap
This month we discussed examining our relationship with money - are we coming from a place of abundance or a place of lack in this area of our lives? Do we think money is a dirty word? We also discussed finances, like charity, begin at home - covering the basic needs first before going after the nice-to-haves. Finally, we discussed setting and achieving financial goals, touching on our previous discussions on commitment and follow through, Personal Prose, Values, Goal Setting, and the Five Whys, the Manifestation Board exercise, identifying and assessing roadblocks, and looking at what you want to harvest in the future.
Take-aways include:
Always come from a place of abundance.
Money - More Opulent Natural Energy, Yeah!
We have to take care of ourselves financially. If you need help in this area, get it!
Money is a tool, not a true goal.
Bless those who have wealth rather than cursing them; for in cursing those who are blessed, you curse yourself. ~ Financial Karma
Know the difference between want and need. Pare back to what you really need and then you'll be able to get what you really want.
It took time to get where we're at, so it stands to reason that it'll take time to get where we really want to be. By being diligent, persistent, and patient, we will get where we need to be in life.
By setting SMART goals and working diligently, persistently, and patiently toward them, we will make great strides down the path of MaXIMIzing this area of our lives!
Next week begins a new month and a new area of our lives to discuss - Physical Health.
As always, feel free to let me know what you think of this blog.
Until next time, namaste!
Take-aways include:
Always come from a place of abundance.
Money - More Opulent Natural Energy, Yeah!
We have to take care of ourselves financially. If you need help in this area, get it!
Money is a tool, not a true goal.
Bless those who have wealth rather than cursing them; for in cursing those who are blessed, you curse yourself. ~ Financial Karma
Know the difference between want and need. Pare back to what you really need and then you'll be able to get what you really want.
It took time to get where we're at, so it stands to reason that it'll take time to get where we really want to be. By being diligent, persistent, and patient, we will get where we need to be in life.
By setting SMART goals and working diligently, persistently, and patiently toward them, we will make great strides down the path of MaXIMIzing this area of our lives!
Next week begins a new month and a new area of our lives to discuss - Physical Health.
As always, feel free to let me know what you think of this blog.
Until next time, namaste!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
MaXIMIze - Values, Goal Setting, and the Five Whys
Last week we worked through the Circle of Perception, and now we are ready to do the work to move forward with MaXIMIzing our lives! Yes, we are going to talk about setting and achieving goals. First though, we are going to talk a little bit about values and principles.
Each of us has a set of core values and principles that guide our lives. We know when we drift away from these core items because we feel "wrong" when we do - something feels off, we may even go so far as to feel sick to our stomachs or have other physical manifestations, depending on how far we have drifted.
Why is this germane to goal setting, you ask? In order for us to be successful at attaining our goals, those goals need to be in alignment with our core values and principles.
In order to determine your core values and principles, think of ten ideals that you aspire to and/or that are important to you - things like honesty, integrity, faithfulness, honor, love, peace, just to name a few. You can Google values and principles if need be to find others.
Then, take that list of ten ideals and pick the top five that are most important to you. Now, narrow that list to three. You can even go a step further and narrow those down to the one value or principle that is most important to you, but that is not necessary for what we are doing today.
Now that you have your top three core values and principles, you can vet the goals you develop against them to see if the goals you come up with are truly in alignment with your core values.
And how you vet them is by asking the five whys - this is a deceptively simple method to get to the deepest reasons for wanting to achieve your goals. Here is an example of how this method works, as show by a comedy bit I wrote:
"Excuse me, but you're sitting on my hat."
"That's a hat. Oh, now I see...very cool. Can you tell me where I can get a hat like that?"
"Why?" (first one)
"If you tell me where, I'll tell you why I want a hat like that."
"Why?" (second one)
"The ladies like the look of a well-fitting lid."
"Why?" (third one)
"I don't know, Herby, now where'd you get that derby?"
"Why?" (fourth one)
"Because old chap, I need me a new cap."
"Why?" (fifth/last one)
"Because, some young cat took off with my hat, and that's that."
Yes, even when you are asking yourself the hard questions, and sometimes because it is you asking the question instead of someone else, there can be some evasion, however, if you keep asking why, you will get to the root of the issue and see if why you've set a particular goal fits with your core values.
Okay, on to the science of setting goals that are achievable!
Some of you may recognize the following acronym from the business world - yes, many of the tools used in the business world can be used in our personal lives as well (like the five whys).
S - Specific - answer the five Ws - who, what, where, when, which (how), and why.
M - Measurable - how many/much, when; be concrete, make it tangible.
A - Attainable - one step at a time; break goals down to the smallest steps.
R - Realistic - aim for something just out of current reach, but doable. Goals should not be low-hanging, easy to reach fruit, but rather the fruit in the higher branches - reaching for them will make you stretch and grow.
T - Timely- a saying I came across recently is: "Someday is not on my calendar." Set reasonable timelines - Rome was not built in a day, and neither was your life to this point.
By using the tools I've shared above, you'll be able to achieve the goals you set for yourself because they will be in alignment with your personal core values and principles and you will ask the questions and do the work to make them SMART goals as well!
Next week we will address manifestation boards as a tool to keep your goals visible. You may know them better as vision boards - I'll explain the difference!
Until then, Namaste!
Each of us has a set of core values and principles that guide our lives. We know when we drift away from these core items because we feel "wrong" when we do - something feels off, we may even go so far as to feel sick to our stomachs or have other physical manifestations, depending on how far we have drifted.
Why is this germane to goal setting, you ask? In order for us to be successful at attaining our goals, those goals need to be in alignment with our core values and principles.
In order to determine your core values and principles, think of ten ideals that you aspire to and/or that are important to you - things like honesty, integrity, faithfulness, honor, love, peace, just to name a few. You can Google values and principles if need be to find others.
Then, take that list of ten ideals and pick the top five that are most important to you. Now, narrow that list to three. You can even go a step further and narrow those down to the one value or principle that is most important to you, but that is not necessary for what we are doing today.
Now that you have your top three core values and principles, you can vet the goals you develop against them to see if the goals you come up with are truly in alignment with your core values.
And how you vet them is by asking the five whys - this is a deceptively simple method to get to the deepest reasons for wanting to achieve your goals. Here is an example of how this method works, as show by a comedy bit I wrote:
"Excuse me, but you're sitting on my hat."
"That's a hat. Oh, now I see...very cool. Can you tell me where I can get a hat like that?"
"Why?" (first one)
"If you tell me where, I'll tell you why I want a hat like that."
"Why?" (second one)
"The ladies like the look of a well-fitting lid."
"Why?" (third one)
"I don't know, Herby, now where'd you get that derby?"
"Why?" (fourth one)
"Because old chap, I need me a new cap."
"Why?" (fifth/last one)
"Because, some young cat took off with my hat, and that's that."
Yes, even when you are asking yourself the hard questions, and sometimes because it is you asking the question instead of someone else, there can be some evasion, however, if you keep asking why, you will get to the root of the issue and see if why you've set a particular goal fits with your core values.
Okay, on to the science of setting goals that are achievable!
Some of you may recognize the following acronym from the business world - yes, many of the tools used in the business world can be used in our personal lives as well (like the five whys).
S - Specific - answer the five Ws - who, what, where, when, which (how), and why.
M - Measurable - how many/much, when; be concrete, make it tangible.
A - Attainable - one step at a time; break goals down to the smallest steps.
R - Realistic - aim for something just out of current reach, but doable. Goals should not be low-hanging, easy to reach fruit, but rather the fruit in the higher branches - reaching for them will make you stretch and grow.
T - Timely- a saying I came across recently is: "Someday is not on my calendar." Set reasonable timelines - Rome was not built in a day, and neither was your life to this point.
By using the tools I've shared above, you'll be able to achieve the goals you set for yourself because they will be in alignment with your personal core values and principles and you will ask the questions and do the work to make them SMART goals as well!
Next week we will address manifestation boards as a tool to keep your goals visible. You may know them better as vision boards - I'll explain the difference!
Until then, Namaste!
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