Getting Ready for Resolutions
2021 has arrived!
It's that time of year again! The most common time for us to be setting goals in the spirit of New Year's resolutions. Perhaps this year more than most, people are yearning for change!
Goals vs. Values
Goal-setting is wonderful and worthwhile, but often we miss one of the most important steps toward goal-achievement – which of our values are underlying the goal? Identifying our values and aligning our goals to the foundation of our values is a great way to enhance goal-achievement. We are more likely to be able to sustain our motivation and stick to our plans-of-action if it is something meaningful to us that is driving our choices. Staying-the-course toward goal-achievement can be challenging, stressful, and can evoke emotions such as anxiety, depression, and guilt. Engaging in values-driven action can serve to counter these unpleasant emotions by providing meaning, fulfillment, and joy along our pursuit.
The Profit Behind Values
Values are what give our lives direction, purpose, and a sense of harmony. Our values-sets are unique to each of us and they may vary over our lifespans. Values themselves are not achievable; they lack an end-date. They are what guide us and give us direction while attaining goals along the path. Values can be thought of as a compass – possessing it provides direction and gives us a sense of security, while goals are the destinations that we stop at along the way in our ongoing journey.
When facing challenging and stressful situations, it can be hard to keep our values-based living at the forefront. This type of situation sets the stage for sinking into depression or anxiety. Living according to our values can be a rather quick and simple way to attain happiness in our lives.
The Many Faces of Values
Taking the time to reflect on which values we hold dear to our selves and to our lives can set the stage not only for goal-setting but for our day-to-day life choices.
Below is a list of commonly identified values. Evaluating those which apply the most to you is a great first step in the process of engaging in values-based living.
Acceptance: to be open to and accepting of myself, others, life etc.
Adventure: to be adventurous; to actively seek, create, or explore novel or stimulating experiences
Assertiveness: to respectfully stand up for my rights and request what I want
Authenticity: to be authentic, genuine, real; to be true to myself
Beauty: to appreciate, create, nurture or cultivate beauty in myself, others, the environment, etc.
Caring: to be caring towards myself, others, the environment, etc.
Challenge: to keep challenging myself to grow, learn, improve
Compassion: to act with kindness towards those who are suffering
Connection: to engage fully in whatever I am doing, and be fully present with others
Contribution: to contribute, help, assist, or make a positive difference to myself or others
Conformity: to be respectful and obedient of rules and obligations
Cooperation: to be cooperative and collaborative with others
Courage: to be courageous or brave; to persist in the face of fear, threat, or difficulty
Creativity: to be creative or innovative
Curiosity: to be curious, open-minded and interested; to explore and discover
Encouragement: to encourage and reward behaviour that I value in myself or others
Equality: to treat others as equal to myself, and vice-versa
Excitement: to seek, create and engage in activities that are exciting, stimulating or thrilling
Fairness: to be fair to myself or others
Fitness: to maintain or improve my fitness; to look after my physical and mental health and well-being
Flexibility: to adjust and adapt readily to changing circumstances
Freedom: to live freely; to choose how I live and behave, or help others do likewise
Friendliness: to be friendly, companionable, or agreeable towards others
Forgiveness: to be forgiving towards myself or others
Fun: to be fun-loving; to seek, create, and engage in fun-filled activities
Generosity: to be generous, sharing and giving, to myself or others
Gratitude: to be grateful for and appreciative of the positive aspects of myself, others and life
Honesty: to be honest, truthful, and sincere with myself and others
Humour: to see and appreciate the humorous side of life
Humility: to be humble or modest; to let my achievements speak for themselves
Industry: to be industrious, hard-working, dedicated
Independence: to be self-supportive, and choose my own way of doing things
Intimacy: to open up, reveal, and share myself -- emotionally or physically – in my close personal relationships
Justice: to uphold justice and fairness
Kindness: to be kind, compassionate, considerate, nurturing or caring towards myself or others
Love: to act lovingly or affectionately towards myself or others
Mindfulness: to be conscious of, open to, and curious about my here-and-now experience
Order: to be orderly and organized
Open-mindedness: to think things through, see things from other’s points of view, and weigh evidence fairly
Patience: to wait calmly for what I want
Persistence: to continue resolutely, despite problems or difficulties
Pleasure: to create and give pleasure to myself or others
Power: to strongly influence or wield authority over others, e.g. taking charge, leading, organizing
Reciprocity: to build relationships in which there is a fair balance of giving and taking
Respect: to be respectful towards myself or others; to be polite, considerate and show positive regard
Responsibility: to be responsible and accountable for my actions
Romance: to be romantic; to display and express love or strong affection
Safety: to secure, protect, or ensure safety of myself or others
Self-awareness: to be aware of my own thoughts, feelings and actions
Self-care: to look after my health and well-being, and get my needs met
Self-development: to keep growing, advancing or improving in knowledge, skills, character, or life experience
Self-control: to act in accordance with my own ideals and regulation
Sensuality: to create, explore and enjoy experiences that stimulate the five senses
Spirituality: to connect with things bigger than myself
Skillfulness: to continually develop and practice my skills, and apply myself fully when using them
Supportiveness: to be supportive, helpful, encouraging, and available to myself or others
Trust: to be trustworthy; to be loyal, faithful, sincere, and reliable
Additional values applicable to you:
The template linked below can help to guide and outline your values-based goal-planning for 2021!
A New Year = new opportunities for growth & change!