Understanding Your Values
What do you value the most?
What is your hierarchy of values?
Are you sure about your answers?
Do you want to determine what are really important to you right now?
Dr. John Demartini was the first person to introduce me to the importance of knowing my values. He believes that “Determining your highest values is one of the most important actions you could ever take.” I believe these words to be absolutely true so let me share these 13 questions that Dr Demartini has created to help you determine your values.
What are values?
To make sure that we’re on the same page, let’s define what “values” means first.
You may think of social idealisms like trust, peace, joy and happiness when you hear the word “values” and think of your own values. But let’s go beyond these socially accepted terms and get down to what I feel is the real definition.
When we discover our values and what inspires us to get up each morning we feel like we can go and take on the world. Your values are what you consider to be the most important things to you right here right now.
Just like each person has a unique fingerprint, each one of us have our own unique set of values as well. I value my family, surfing, and growing my businesses. You may value clothes, going to the gym or socialising. That’s totally ok, there are no wrong or right values. There are only your unique set of values.
Why is it important to know your values?
I first did this exercise in 2008. Through the years, I’ve shared it with many people in various countries and I’ve learned that completing the exercise results in the following benefits:
Focus on living according to your highest values
Live life with purpose
Do what inspires you
Be present
Know what you’d love to do in life
Make the most of your life
Live life to the max
Find order in the chaos of life
Be empowered
Find meaning in your life
Less stress
Have more freedom
Realise and know what’s important to you
Live with more energy
Be highly focused
Be present
Be fulfilled in life
Live a life with meaning
13 Questions To Determine Your Values
Do you want to reap these benefits? You have to promise, though, to be honest about your answers. This will be a very personal soul-searching exercise for you and only when you are open and honest with your answers will you dig deep within yourself.
Also, keep in mind there are 7 areas of your life you want to empower. Think of them as you write down your answers:
Physical
Family
Spiritual
Vocation Career
Mental
Financial
Social
So, let’s get started. Ask yourself these questions:
What do you fill your space with?
How do you spend your time?
How do you spend your energy?
How do you spend your money?
Where do you have the most order and organisation?
Where are you most reliable, disciplined and focused?
What do you think about, and what is your most dominant thought?
What do you visualize and realize?
What is your internal dialogue?
What do you talk about in social settings?
What inspires you?
What are the most consistent long-term goals that you set?
What do you love to learn and read about?
After answering each of the questions at least 3 times each, you will have to allocate each of the answers into a particular area of your life. Then, add up the total for each question. When you’ve finished, you will have determined you unique hierarchy of values. If you need a hand with this, please reach out and I can help facilitate the exercise with you.
Conclusion
The results you get from answering the 13 questions may not be what you expected or dreamed about. You might feel guilty or even shame at what comes out at the top of your values.
Remember, there are no right or wrong values and with a little bit of hard work you can .
If you want help completing this exercise, or you’d like to know how to shift some of your values higher or lower, or link where you’re at right now to where you want to be in the future, then please connect with me. I will assist you in finding the answers from within and guide you through the process.