Discovering our values

We learn our values in childhood and they follow us throughout our lives. Our actions are all based on our values, so let’s explore what’s important to us.

Our childhood sets us up for our adulthood. It’s where we learn how safe the world around us is, and who in our lives is safe. The adults around us pass on knowledge and skills, informing us about how the world works and where we fit in that world. As we grow up and become adults, our values are put into practice.

Our values guide all of our decisions. Taking the examples above, and you’re welcome to use other values not listed above, choose ten that align with you most.

Do you know where you got these values from? Who taught you to find them important? If no one taught them to you as you grew up, was it an experience you had that made you realize how important they are? Do you feel that no one taught it to you and you felt it was something you should have been taught?

Next we’re going to take our list of 10 values and narrow it down to 5:

When was the last time that you acted out these values? How do you use these values in your daily life?

Has there been any times that you have acted in a way that didn’t align with your values? If yes, what took over?