Values Clarification

At the beginning of this year, my team and I went through a full day personal development workshop led by a former mentee of mine Beverly Chogo. She did awesome facilitation that left the team eager for more. We hope to engage her in our annual retreats going forward.

What was interesting for me was the values clarification session. After identifying our values, we visualized how our lives would be at 80 years old. A little write up thinking through all you had achieved now that you were 80 years old.

I excitedly wrote how I would be chilling on this balcony of my home overlooking the many trees that could be seen all around us. My love  would be sitting with me this slow morning and children chattering away in play and laughter. This clearly showed family was important to me and trees. Well trees is not a value per say, it was there though.

Community was another value and it can be seen through the work that I engage in, including this blog and newsletter that aims to build and grow the Hopeful and Joyful Community.

This session started a chain of events that led to most of my team members starting school and other different kinds of trainings. Bev, thank you for the amazing work you did.

As for me and my family, we sat to think through our next steps for getting to the dreams we held for ourselves some fifty years from now. It was a rigorous experience that left us with a clear idea of what we wanted as a team, my husband and I.

I would urge you to take sometime to clarify your values.

This will be the compass you need to forge the direction you want to go. We all know what they say about a ship at sea. The one likely to have a smoother ride is the one whose captains knows the destination. The journey is more enjoyable and fruitful.

Those without values keeps going round and round the endless waters with no clear path where anything goes. The journey is not so enjoyable with little to show for at the end of the day.

There are many models of how you can identify your values, a quick google search will give you endless ideas on what works best for you. I did find this article that could help with the process.

Imagine yourself at 80 years

Last week, I was in a work call where a member of one of the networks I am in, The STREAM Network just turned 80 years old. I am so eager to speak to her and if she agrees, I will bring the lessons along with me.

It brought home the reality of turning 80 and all the ideas that started me off in the year rushing back.

I am so excited for you to get to understand your values, it is a worthwhile activity and the future you will thank you for it.

Once you have identified your top three or five values, take a moment to think of your life at 80 years and all the things you will have achieved. Write that vision down and see if it fits with the values you chose. If not, rewrite your values to fit those of that vision so that you are in alignment.

Your mind, body and soul work best when they are on the same journey and true to you. Go forth and unearth yourself.