P’lovers the Environmental Store (Port Perry)

“A value is an ambiguous concept that governs human behaviour.”

“Personal values are implicitly related to choice; they guide decisions by allowing for an individual’s choices to be compared to each choice’s associated values.” -Wiki

Why bother discovering what your values are?

When we bring our values and beliefs to our conscious attention (focus) we are apt to live them within our life. Clearly defined values system will also enable us to make clear definitions, providing choices.

Steps to Living your Values

1. Make a master list of world values: Rhyme off as many values you think people might have. This is the time to look Outward. What do you see other people believing in? (i.e. integrity, work ethic, spirituality, health, focus, love, independence, etc…) Here is a master list of values if you’re struggling with this step. I encourage you to read them each over and think of what this means to someone with this value and how it manifests within our world.

2. Select 10 value words that are intrinsic to YOUR life. What off this list are things that you value in life?

3. From your Personal List, select your Top 5 of your 10.

4. Create value statements: Values statements are your personal mission statement, including the value that you honour.  (i.e. I live a path of spirituality and connectivity to others.) What does this value you have selected look like in your life? How would you like it to look? Why is this important to you? Why did you select this off the list?

5. Walk the talk: Now that we have clearly defined our personal values, we may use them when navigating our daily lives. With each small decision or large decision, we can use our values to help guide us. (i.e. whether to work late this evening, or head straight home to the family, bringing a travel mug to the coffee shop or taking a paper to-go cup. Composting or combining our kitchen waste. Shopping at the Dollar Store vs. a small downtown business.)

Approaching life with conscious intention and mindfulness of my personal beliefs/values. 

A personal reflection:
Before having my baby, I created my parenting manifesto. No word of a lie. I wrote down our values that we wished to raise our unborn child with. I wrote out the steps I wished to take and how I would like to raise him.

After he was born, as we were challenged with the reality of raising a child and the ensuing emotional rollercoaster, I am/was able to step back occasionally and ask myself: does this fit my parenting values? And yes: I am like the bamboo and flex and bend when I need to, but I have a compass in which to select my direction. And approach my parenting with mindfulness and intention.

For light exploration into your own values systems, I recommend the following books available from the P’lovers Eco-Bookshelf as a starter:

List Your Self: Listmaking as the
Way to Self-Discovery (Segalove)

 
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work
of Mindful Parenting (Kabat-Zinn)

-Colleen

We have a TON of books that will facilitate a path of choice.