I’ve shared before how important the values incorporated into my mantra of “Love Self, Serve Others” are to me. In fact, this idea resonates with me SO strongly that I try to make it the guidepost for both my personal life AND how I run my business. Because it’s NOT enough to just know what your values are; you must also construct a vision for your life that is in alignment to them. Because when we are out of alignment, we are not showing up as the best version of ourselves.
About a month ago, I spent some time talking about values. And while I don’t want to spend TOO much time revisiting those posts (as you can find them in my social media history), I think it’s important to highlight a few things from that conversation as they relate to defining your best life...
In a nutshell, we talked about identifying your values, prioritizing the ones that are MOST important, selecting behaviors that are in alignment to them, and taking action that reflects what you value. We also touched on how getting into alignment with what you value most can create a sense of ease and clarity in your life, particularly around decision-making.
This week, I want to delve a little deeper and talk about using your values to design your best life. And the best way to do that? Connecting your values to a vision for the future!
Here are three steps you can take RIGHT NOW to start defining and designing a life that resonates with you:
1. Think about the top 2-3 values you’ve identified.
What do they look like in practice FOR YOU? For example, one of my values is serving others. For me, that looks like working with my individual coaching clients to gain clarity around what they want and how to get it. What about you; what values are you living, and how do they show up in the world?
2. Envision where you want to take them.
In 10 years, what will you have accomplished if you stay true to your values? Again using my example of serving others, I would say that in 10 years, this value has allowed me to support others as they dramatically change their lives and accomplish goals beyond their wildest dreams, making me a sought-after coach and support for others. And you? Where will YOU be in 10 years if you continue to live in your values daily?
3. Identify the steps that will take you from where you are to where you want to be.
What will this look like in terms of both larger milestones as well as day-to-day decision-making? For me to accomplish my 10 year vision, I need to dream big and find ways to manage the fears that come along with that; in my day-to-day life, this presents itself as choosing to take action towards what I want and to practice living from a place of faith where my mindset is abundant and positive. So what might living in your values look like for you, both in terms of the larger themes in your life as well as the daily choices you make for how you engage in the world?
Defining your best life may sound daunting, but if you begin by connecting to your core values and use them to guide you through the process, they can help you immensely with gaining clarity around your choices!
