Why Values are Important for Healthy Living
By Bethany Henrichs. Today we will discuss why we believe values are important for healthy living: Life can be hectic. As we go through our days following routines that include everything from waking up at a certain time each morning, preparing and eating meals, going to places such as school and work, and spending time with our loved ones, we are faced with constant choices. Taking the time to identify and understand what our values are can assist us through the chaos and get us through difficult times.
WHAT ARE VALUES?
Values are those things we care deeply about in life, and they help to give meaning and purpose to our lives. Understanding ourselves can begin with clarifying what our values are; values we learned from our parents and teachers growing up which can change as we get older and live independently. If we live according to those values we identify as important, our actions become more aligned with our values and we tend to feel better about ourselves.
For example, if we value creativity, we might choose a career such as interior design or makeup artistry that allows for more imagination and original thinking. Choosing a career as a database administrator, however, may become stifling and boring for those who value creativity, not leading to career advancement. Additionally, if honesty is what we value most, it’s important to seek out the truth to say what we really think and behave authentically. In this example, the truth is what guides us and by prioritizing honesty, it allows for living more honorably with ourselves and others.
HOW DOES VALUE IDENTIFICATION HELP US?
In addition to giving our lives purpose, values also guide us in our decision-making. Whether it be day-to-day choices or bigger decisions like selecting a job, deciding where to live, whether to go to trade school or college, for instance, emotions can occasionally hinder us in making a decision that will benefit us the most. Referring to those values we prioritize can help us reach a reasonable and rational decision in a shorter amount of time rather than wavering on a decision that is clouded with too much emotion.
Values can also help us fully develop our self concept. Being able to answer the question of ‘Who Am I?’ plays an important part in our overall wellness. Knowing and prioritizing what our top five to six values are can help us fully explain the picture we have of ourselves and the picture we think others have of us.
Finally, values help increase our self-esteem and self-confidence. We all need to have a sense of stability in our lives, and when we know what we value and believe, we are able to navigate through life with more ease. We are all different regarding those values that are important to us, and not comparing ourselves to others but instead honoring those values in ourselves that make us unique can raise our level of confidence so that we can continue progressing forward.
WHY START IDENTIFYING VALUES TODAY?
In summary, it is important to identify what our values are and become aware of how our values change throughout our lifespan. Taking the time to accept those values we learned from our childhood and those we are embracing in our adulthood can help us better understand, identify, and prioritize our values as they are today. Acknowledging what is important to us and what matters most to us not only helps us to clarify our life purpose, but also guides us in our decision-making, helps us to fully develop our self-concept, and increases our levels of self-confidence, all of which lead to a healthier way of living.
Written By Bethany Henrichs, MA, LCPC
Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash
References: https://business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/what-are-personal-values–cms-31561