Values

Our internal compass Guiding us towards wellbeing

What are they?

Values are the guiding principles or beliefs we hold which shape our attitudes, behaviours and decisions. They represent what is important and meaningful to us as individuals and begin to form within our early childhood, influenced by those close to us. Whilst our values remain relatively stable over time, they can evolve as we experience and learn new things, develop further impactful relationships and gain a deeper understanding of who we are holistically as a person.

Why are they important?

Our values become part of the core of who we are and can inconspicuously impact our views of the world around us. These ingrained principles and beliefs support a sense of meaning and purpose within us and build cultures, whether within families, communities, teams and organisations. As our behaviours are what is seen externally by others, our values are the unseen force driving our actions. We can think of them as our internal compass guiding us towards a sense of meaning and wellbeing – if we choose to recognise them!

How we individually interpret and prioritise our values will vary and will be influenced by our unique experiences, culture, religious views and personal preferences. Whilst two siblings may form some of the same values from their childhood influences, how they interpret and demonstrate them may show up differently as their unique contexts interact with them.

Values often become significant during times of conflict, where there may be a misalignment of values. This can include misalignment with ourselves, where our behaviours and decisions do not align with the values we hold and we feel a sense of dis-ease. During conflict with others, we may hold differing values and views on what is important which are going unspoken, yet are covertly driving the conversation, actions and behaviours.

Values can also support us during times of uncertainty and change. When there are many options, or ambiguity to how things may evolve, tapping into our values can create a sense of direction and purpose and can be utilised within both professional and personal environments. For example, we often face times at work where we’re experiencing change and are either unclear what the change looks like or may not fully agree with it. Leaning into the team and organisational values and ideally supporting others to identify how these align to their own, can help us to re-gain some clarity on an appropriate course of action to take or goal to aim for.

How can we understand our values?

A quick and easy way to start to consider your values is to reflect over the span of your life from childhood to today and ask yourself the following questions, reflecting on your responses:

·       When have you been the most and least engaged?

·       What was happening at that time?

·       How were you feeling and behaving?

·       What was driving those thoughts, feelings and behaviours? What values were at play?

·       What’s important to me now?