If You Want to Succeed, Discover What Really Matters to You

Everyone has values…you know, the personal rules that you live by. What’s interesting is how few people think consciously about those values. And yet, it’s your values that shape your behavior and your beliefs. When you set goals in your life, you’re more likely to reach that goal when your values are the inspirational factor in that goal. So, if you haven’t given much thought to your values and you have goals like “becoming debt free this year” or “learning a new language” or “exercising three times a week,” you might be setting yourself up to fail.

Your values are the core of who you are. When you set a goal, you generally start out with a lot of enthusiasm and motivation, but over time, that energy begins to subside and that’s where a lot of people lose steam and give up on achieving the goal. When your goals are supported by your true self (your values) your motivation will not subside. Obstacles won’t trip you up. Stress won’t beat you down. You won’t sabotage yourself.

So, how do you become conscious of your values? Two possible ways are to look at your best moment and your worst moment. Take a moment in a quiet, undisturbed place and think about those two situations in your life: your best and worst moments. Then write them down in detail. Where were you? What happened? Who else was involved? What did you do or say or think? What was the outcome? How did you feel afterward?

By writing this down, you can take a look at what you’ve written then think about what values these situations reveal. The best moment will help you identify your values, and the worst moment will help you identify what values you violated. This process is not always easy for some people. That’s where a life coach can be beneficial. Life coaches are professional listeners and facilitators who can help you speak your truth without judgment. They can help you work through challenges and get unstuck from situations or issues that are difficult for you to see yourself.

Since values are who you are right now, they can change over time. Perhaps you’re setting goals based on values that are no longer serving you. When you know your values and make them a part of your goals and what you want to achieve, you position yourself to succeed.

Websites like 2YourWell-Being.com offer free helpful information, exercises and worksheets that you can use to become more conscious of what really matters to you so that you can find more fulfillment and balance in your life.