Meaningful Purpose: Values and Virtues

Through the course establishing positive rituals a fundamental step must not be ignored. That step is each individual must take the step to process his or her value structure. This step should help provide intrinsic value, inspiration, and meaning that cannot be taken away from anyone. So how do you do it, here are some questions that can help jump start your mind toward establishing a value list.
Answer these questions:
What matters most to you? If you struggle consider these additional questions to help point you into the direction of establishing your value list.
1. What are the 3 most important lessons you have learned in your life and why are they so critical?
2. Thing of someone you deeply respect. Describe 3 qualities in this person that you most admire.
3. Who are you at your best?
4. Upon the end of your life, what inscription would you like to see on your tombstone that would capture who you really were in your life? (et. al. J.Loehr & T. Schwartz, 2003)

OK, now you may have a short list of some values that are important to you. Below you find a more detailed list of some values, but lets remember that a value is a road map, a personal road map of purpose. Thus if you have no follow through the value is empty and will not provide the source of fuel and purpose described previously or herein. Before we look toward these values consider your motivation. All too often our motivation for a behavior is expedient rather than value driven, so consider these values as the source for your actions and behavioral adjustments. Values hold us to a different standard and therefore help us to manage energy more effectively. Here is an example: Let's say that I have chosen to race bicycles, I might pose a questions as to why do I take the time out of my day....? Lets say I answer that questions to assure I live a life of courage and well being. The value of care or well being addresses the life style cycling offers it's participant the aspect of courage could be the challenge of day to day labor the sport take to participate and be competitive. Without these values I might not find a reasonable purpose as to why to head out the door come a rainy day. Again, courage comes to mind, further a value of commitment comes to mind. There you have it, this is how you begin to find purpose in what it is you want out of your life and establishing this purpose through a value structure assures you will bring passion, commitment, and perseverance to whatever it is you do.

Value Check list:
Authenticity Happiness
Balance harmony
Commitment Health
Compassion Honesty
Concern for others Humor
Courage Integrity
Creativity Kindness
Empathy knowledge
Excellence Loyalty
Fairness Openness
Faith Perseverance
Family Respect for others
Freedom Responsibility
Friendship Security
Generosity Serenity
Genuineness service to others

Next we will explore how establishing a vision for how we intend to invest our energy, take the time to write out your values and maybe a few ways you can apply them to your daily life. Go with purpose!