Values are the mental concepts that make meaning possible; they provide us with motivation to act and a framework for decision-making. Every person has values whether they know it or not.

We can define values as our preferences (what you would prefer to experience in your life) multiplied by their priority (the importance you place on experiencing the preference). For example you may prefer to be healthy (i.e. value health) and yet not necessarily prioritise it through your behaviours, decision-making and energy allocation. The difference between knowing the benefits of health and living the value of health are quickly self evident in your life.

Research has shown that people who are conscious of their highest priority values are more fulfilled and happier in their lives. They make more effective decisions for themselves around issues such as spending, time allocation, relationships etc. To know your personal values (as opposed to guessing at their nature) is to be more aware of who you are, what you want and, of course, what you don’t want.

Life can be busy! There is always so much to be done, even if it is simply trying to find enough time just to do nothing. The common trend to make sure we dedicate enough time to all the various and often-contradictory aspects of life is to aim for a balanced lifestyle. Balance makes sense, doesn’t it? Well for most people who haven’t yet thought to dig a little deeper into their personal values, yes, a balanced lifestyle does sound appealing.

However, on closer inspection the whole balance philosophy can often be found to be flawed. A balanced lifestyle only really makes sense when all the various aspects of your life carry equal merit and importance for you. When people really evaluate their lives they discover that in fact some areas of their life are actually more important to them than others. In which case why would you want to balance your time, money, and energy around things that are disproportionately important to you?

Understanding your values enables you to move beyond striving for a balanced lifestyle and create for yourself a prioritised lifestyle. It enables you to live life more deliberately.

Consider the following points:

• “What’s most important to me?
• How do I express that in my decisions,
• How do I express that in my behaviour, and my communication?”

The answers may surprise you. They may help you make more fulfilling decisions, relating to all manner of things: your career, relationships, finances, health, education, state of mind and happiness.

Article paraphrased from A Brief Case for Personal Values by Michael Henderson and used with permission.  Michael Henderson is a director of Values AT Work Corporate Anthropologists, specialising in the clarification and alignment of personal and organisational values.   For more information: Phone +64 9 372 2045 Email info@valuesatwork.org Website www.valuesatwork.org