Today I’m going to talk about core values along with
a 10 minute exercise so you can align your actions, relationships and decisions for optimal growth.
Let’s talk about growth for a minute.
The hardest part of growth and self discovery is learning which people, places and opportunities create an environment conducive for positive change vs. those who benefit from you staying exactly as you are.
You cannot fully embody a new version of yourself when your brain is triggered to regress into old habits and ways of behaving.
If you notice yourself revisiting past behaviors, habits or thought processes when around an old friend, role or environment, you might have outgrown that younger version of you. It may feel awkward or uncomfortable but this a sign of growth.
But how do you know which environment is right for you?
Keep reading.
Accountability
Are you a boat or a dock?
My therapist gave me this analogy and it stuck with me.
Picture a boat floating in the water with no anchor. It drifts around….. and around..… until an anchored boat invites it over. So the anchorless boat ties up and joins the party and people.
Then the party ends.
So they untie the boat and it drifts away.
The anchorless boat sees another group of boats. It drifts over and gets tied to one of them….joining those people until they decide they are done and untie it.
And the anchorless boat drifts away again…..waiting to see who it can anchor itself to.
This is what it feels like to navigate life without a defined set of core values.
Core values act as a filter for
- Relationships
- Opportunities
- Personal brand
- Content creation
- Decision making
Without core values, every passing thing can pull you in, creating a false sense of safety and stability for a short time.
Growth requires you to be a dock, not a boat.
A dock is a person with a defined set of values that pulls in people and opportunities.
It’s stable.
Others come to it.
Let’s make sure you’re a dock, not a boat……
Seeking more alignment in your life? Keep going…..
Aspiration
Write every day? It doesn’t take years of self-reflection or therapy to define your core values.
This simple 10 minute exercise will help you create your values so you can start aligning your actions with the right people, decisions and opportunities.
Step 1: Reflect
Reflect on your life and answer the following 4 questions:
- When was I happiest in my life & what was I doing at that time?
- When was I the least happy in my life & what was I doing at that time?
- If money was no object, what would a perfect day look like?
- How do I spend my free time?
Step 2: Create a list of 10-15 words
Based on those reflections, choose 10 – 15 words from this list.
A few notes :
- This list is not exhaustive – you may think of another word
- Personal values may vary from person to person
- Your values have evolved and will continue to evolve. Stay focused on now.
Step 3: Refine your list
Bucket your words into columns based on similarities.
Then highlight one word per column so you refine it to 4-5 values that are clearly distinct and represent different parts of yourself.
Ambition
Step 4: Pair with a verb
Now it’s time to make impactful statements for each word.
Here’s mine….
- Create & maintain meaningful relationships.
- Seek opportunities for growth.
- Live in control of my time.
- Always make time for play – never take life too seriously.
- Protect my mental and physical health.
Step 5: Make them visible
- Make them your phone backdrop
- Add them to your computer wallpaper
- Write them in the front of a notebook
- Put a post-it on your desk
CONGRATS! You just created your core values and can start aligning your actions with the right people, decisions and opportunities.
Bonus: This is also great exercise to do with a partner or team. We did this at a recent mastermind to help create attendees individual culture and value system.
If you are ready to take your Ambition to the next level, here are 3 ways I can support you.
Library Lounge
| A resource hub for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to start, grow, or scale their businesses and build the careers of their dreams. https://marielleagency.com/shop/. |
Business Consulting
| Our consulting services not only fine-tune your strategies and operations but also cultivate a resilient and growth-oriented mindset. Together, let’s conquer challenges, unleash potential, and set the stage for a year of unprecedented success! Reach out to this email: |
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