What Do You Value?

If you also receive my newsletter (and if you want to, sign up here) you already know that Bob (darling husband) and I spent a wonderful week tromping around + backpacking in Glacier National Park. We soaked in the mountain views, wildlife (saw a bear!), fairy tale waterfalls with moss, mushrooms and wildflowers, met cool fellow hikers, AND lived with nothing but what was on our backs.

Now, I know this is not everyone’s cup of tea, however, it did highlight (and underscore) my values. As we flew home, I contemplated how living with so little and being SO HAPPY was possible for me. (I like my shoe collection! And also my jackets!) And yet, I have noticed this feeling of joy and freedom on just about every trip we take, whether we camp or not.

What it boiled down to (and this after a week on the trail and lots of journal writing) was that I was lining up very clearly with my values of Health, Love, Freedom, and Beauty. I use these as my check-in for nearly every decision I make:

• Do I want to buy it?
  
  
• Do I want to keep it?
  
  
• Do I say Yes or No (to anything!!!)?
  
  

Will the answer to ANY DECISION I make take me closer, or farther from living my values?

Try this exercise for yourself and no, you don’t have to visit a national park to get it done :)

Those four values are mine and you’re welcome to use them but maybe you value:

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Transformation
Parenting
Wisdom
Service
God
Education
Spirituality

Friendship
Happiness
Achievement
Charity
Joy
Community
Diversity

Peace
Kindness
Adventure
Discovery
Harmony
Aging Well
Truth

Or any number of other choices...those are just a few to get you started. If you want to peek at a very comprehensive list of 400, CLICK HERE. And, as we grow and change in life, our values may also change. Is it possible that you are operating with values that you embraced 10, 20, or 30 years ago? Is it time to investigate what motivates you right now?

Try this exercise for yourself. Write your top 3 or 4 values on a post-it and put it on your computer, fridge or car dashboard. (no right or wrong answer AND you can change them at any time!) Then NOTICE for one week what happens when you use your values to guide you. 

Does anything change? How do you feel? 

How does this impact your environment and the things you choose to buy, hold on to, or let go? 

If you need support to untangle your decisions about your stuff, I’m here for you!

And I would LOVE to have you drop down into the comments below and SHARE! It’s fun to get to know all of you...keep your questions and comments coming!


Lots and lots of love!

(And a big bear hug, straight from Glacier Park)

Jane

Just an internet bear...not a photo from our trip! (But she looked like that!)

(All other photos taken by husband Bob with his smartphone :))

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