What Do You Really Value?

The Entrepreneurial G. A. P.
by Tim Staton,
TimStaton.com

Part One of a Three-Part Discussion

Psssst… hey you!  Shhhh!  Don’t let anyone know you are reading this.  No seriously, if you can’t read this in private, bookmark it and come back when you can.  This will only work if it is just the two of us and you know that I can’t see you and I won’t hear your responses.  I am going to take you through an exercise in order to help you identify your true core values.  In order for you to receive any benefit from the exercise, you must be certain that you will not be observed.  Your responses will almost certainly be affected negatively if your privacy is not absolute. I am asking you to be brutally honest with yourself as you contemplate the following questions related to three key emotions which often reveal our real values.

#1 What makes you angry?

We are not talking about a quick flash because you were cut off in traffic (unless your response got more than 1k shares on Facebook).  Think back to the last three times you have been really angry.  What was behind your anger?  Were you embarrassed by someone?  Were you offended for (or by) someone else?  Did someone deny you something or take something from you?  We often feel anger when something we value is threatened.  Name it.  What was being threatened to cause you to feel angry.  Examine a couple of other instances from your memory and identify the values underlying this emotion.

#2 What makes you afraid?

We value the things that make us feel secure and the threat of losing these things creates fear.  What are you afraid of losing?  Is it financial security, health, reputation, loved ones, freedom or something else?  Once you have identified them, ask yourself what it is about having them that makes you feel secure.  Even if you have to admit some selfishness here, name what it is that you value about having these things.

#3 What makes you happy and content?

When was the last time that you almost felt giddy?  I mean you were feeling a deep down, soul-satisfying contentment.  What makes you feel alive and optimistic?  Think about the last few times you were almost inexplicably happy.  What happened to make you so happy?  Who were you with?  What were you doing?  Where were you?  What we are discovering is that we feel the most contentment when we are surrounded by the people and things we value or are in a state that we value (i.e. health, wealth, accomplishment, companionship etc.).

Hide your notes because next month we will get another perspective on what you value.
 
Tim Staton is an author, coach, public speaker and “change” agent.  Connect with him and share your experience at https://www.facebook.com/timstatondotcom