At the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists a silent pulse of rhythm, a complex of wave forms and resonances, which is absolutely individual and unique, and yet which connects us to everything in the universe. —George Leonard
Our values are our deeply-held desires that guide us in creating a fulfilling life. When we honor our values, our hearts sing. When values are confused with judgment, including ethical or moral judgment, thoughts of right/wrong or good/bad—we lose our ability to connect with our common humanity. That also reduces our capacity to contribute to making the world a better place.
Energetically, needs and values are the same. Needs and values are nearly identical, except that needs are what we care about right now and values are what we care about long-term. Knowing and articulating our values gives us the opportunity to know what we stand for. Finding compelling language that describes the key driving forces in our lives gives us clarity about our deepest longing.
Most of us have four or five core values that we’ve held since childhood. To clarify values, we can explore peak experiences when life was exceptionally sweet, when we recognized our highest selves or when we were at the top of our game. If we look for values that feel like second nature, we can identify the qualities of life that support those values and make life worth living. Our values don’t change much over time, but our awareness of our values often shifts.
We can help clients become aware of what really matters to them by helping them clarify the unique set of values they treasure over time. Values awareness helps people become true to themselves. When they are aligned with their values; their vision, mission and purpose become clear and easy to define. Over time, when a goal isn’t met, it’s often because the goal is not linked to a core value.
Values are deeply personal. To support clients in determining the most important values, we listen between the lines. Clarity about values is quite often a revelation and helps them make decisions and take action. When people are uncomfortable, it’s often because their needs in the here and now or their long-term values are not honored. When values are fully honored, people come into alignment and feel energized.
Excerpt from Coaching for Transformation by Lasley, Kellogg, Michaels and Brown.
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