Discovering personal values can be challenging in today’s fast-paced, competitive society. We may value time spent in nature, quality time with our loved ones, or spiritual fulfillment. But we often feel like we don’t have the time or energy to live according to what truly matters to us. Instead, we get lost in our responsibilities and habits, and lose track of what makes life fulfilling.
Eventually, we may find ourselves completely uncertain about what we find meaningful, and the question of “what do you value?” becomes overwhelming.
In this post, you’ll learn how discovering personal values can guide you toward meaningful life goals and help you reconnect with what truly matters.
How To Discover Personal Values
Remember: exploring your values doesn’t mean that you must stick to them for life. As we grow and change, so do our values, but what remains consistent is that they always orient us towards what is meaningful. Life can be unpredictable, and our goals may shift from moment to moment, but clarity about our values can get us back on track.
When we start therapy, we may have a good idea of what we want to move away from, but we might not be clear about what we want to move towards. Getting clear about values doesn’t just help us to make life more meaningful, but it also helps us set small, actionable goals to move towards a life that brings fulfillment. Values help define the direction, and goals are the stops we make along the way.
Clarifying Values and Getting Started
- Values work can be challenging when we have the fast-paced narrative of our everyday lives buzzing in the background. Slow down, take a deep breath, and connect to your sense of self in this moment.
- Write down the answers to these questions: When do I feel the most happy and satisfied? What do I want to do with my time on this planet? What kind of person do I want to be?
- Consider the major domains of your life. These can include work, leisure, relationships, health, and spirituality. In each domain, reflect on how your actions are either aligning you with your values or moving you further away from them.
- Commit to one small step each day to move you in the direction of who you want to be in the domains that need the most attention at this moment.
- Come back to this exercise regularly to shift your focus to what needs the most attention in the present moment.
How Therapy Can Help With Discovering Values and Meaningful Life Goals
A therapist can offer a compassionate and non-judgmental space for you to explore what is most meaningful to you.
Your therapist can help you untangle the noise from the external world so you can better understand your own internal compass. Working with a therapist can help expand your knowledge about the types of values that you may have, and they can work to help you stay oriented in the direction of your values.
Our team of therapists at Rebound Total Health is ready to help. Book a consultation and start your journey to discovering personal values!
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