A life can be richly enhanced when we can weave our values into the fabric of 
living it. 

By understanding then incorporating one value at a time, we can create the 
living of a 'values-based' life. This foundational piece will support us in 
every other way - including in how we bring ourselves to our business. 

In order to orient our life around values -- or maybe it's reorient for some 
-- we first identify what they are. Here's some help. 

We are talking about getting in touch with values when we ask: 
- What should I do? - What do I want. (me!) - What's my opinion? 

First know this - We ARE our values already. They ARE us. 

Values are : 
• what we are naturally inclined or drawn toward: 
• what we are eager to do 
• what we do without efforting and without 'setting goals' 
• what people probably can't STOP us from living through, given our choice 

Values can change over time, but a good way to begin is actually identify and 
name those we resonate with right now. Create a list of ten values that you 
hold -- and then prioritize this to your current Top Four. 

An example of a value could be "wanting to know." There are people who just 
w.a.n.t to know. As children, as adults, they love asking questions and 
listening to responses, reading up on, going to classes and seminars, knowing 
people who know. For them, 'being informed' is a value. Or it could be called 
'getting clarity.' It's how they go about living -- becoming informed, or 
having clarity. Even if not part of their job, they will do the research and 
find out more about the specifics and "the why's.' In fact, they may value 
this so much, they HAVE to know and understand certain things about the 
details in order to get a sense of the big picture. 

If this is the case, it may be joyful to them to be able to have a career that 
depends upon them becoming expert in an arena that requires ongoing research. 
Then doing what they do naturally can dovetail with their business preparation 
and success. 

Here's a start on more examples of values. Some may be a fit for you, or they 
may stimulate you to identify yours: 

 - creating, adventure, teaching, contributing, beauty, spirituality 
- to catalyze, to discover, to feel, to lead, mastery, pleasure, to relate, 
- be sensitive, be spiritual, to win, to accomplish, to experience, sex 

Identify the top four values (of these or others), then look at how life can 
be lived more fully into and through these. This lends congruence and validity 
to each day. People  begin to feel more on purpose and more able to bring true 
Self to work and relationships. 

Values run very deep within us. But surface or more superficial things can get 
into the way. For example, values can go out the window when we become 
compulsive around issues or an unhealthy relationship. An addiction can get 
very much in our way of living through or living out of values because it 
changes our day-to-day behavior and may interrupt us being true to ourselves 
or acting in our own best interest. 

There are many barriers to being in touch with our values effectively. 
Examples could be: 

unmet needs
should's, could's and would have's
tolerations
incompletions
irresponsibility
stress
roles
adrenaline addiction; other addictions
money
obligation/duty
guilt
blaming

Given how much time, power and energy is invested in the list above - it's not 
much surprise we may find people having difficulty in expressing and 
demonstrating their values! 

As we explore finding and then honoring our values, they grow more powerful 
for us and more supportive of us. Values are a lot like an exercised body in 
this sense. Use them...and they emerge more fully. Once front and center, they 
help us feel good about ourselves, and go to work FOR us as we make more space 
in our life for them and attend to them more consciously. Neglect them, and we 
limit their capacity to serve us. 

Adopting a values-based approach to goal setting is also possible: 
 1. Select goals which fully express one of your values. 
 2. Observe if this helps you focus more on what matters most. 
 3. Notice if this is more rewarding for you than goals based  otherwise. 
 4. You may find you want to also incorporate integrity-based goals with these 
and if you start getting more clarity on what else you need in your life. 
  5. Set regular times to work on these goals and to recommit to them. 

Identifying then honoring our values in our daily life is another way to 
expand our willingness and capacity to receive. This can directly increase our 
effectiveness and availability for happiness in our relationships and in our 
life generally. It can immediately and powerfully help us be in integrity with 
our most essential Self. 

(c) 1997, Sherry Lowry, The Lowry Group/NexusPoint