Clarify Your Values & Let Them Guide You

What are Values?

Values are like a compass for your life. They are the direction you desire to head in. They aren’t goals that can be completed and ticked off your list, rather they are always there to guide your choices. Although many share values, everyone has their own unique set of values. Values have a special resonance with you, like a tuning fork for your life.

Some examples of values are:

• integrity
• family connection
• social connection
• spiritual connection
• contribution to the world
• health & vibrancy
• philosophical examination
• adventure
• scientific pursuit
• mindfulness
• peace within
• financial security

What are your most important values?

If you’ve completed your reasons for weight loss, ask yourself what makes these reasons important to you? That will give you insight into your values. Write down your most important values, perhaps in your phone or on an index card.

Arrange to look at these values 2-3 times daily, as well as any time you are struggling with yourself. Reflect on your values & what they mean about the action you want to take. For example, if your value is health & vibrancy, and you are struggling with getting out for your workout, take a moment to breathe, connect with yourself, and reflect on how best to move toward your value.

Using Values to Make Macro-level Decisions

Clarifying your values will also help you to start to make some choices on the macro level instead of the micro level. What I mean is, when you are trying to change, you want to be making decisions about your actions on a broader level and letting those decisions guide you moment to moment, rather than redeciding each moment. For example, if you want to eat only at planned times, you don’t want to be debating with yourself about eating every time you see or think about food throughout the day.