How to Create a Values-Driven Life: How do I practice my values every day?

Full Transcript

Welcome back, everyone! I'm Danielle Hagerty, and we've reached our final video in this series on core values. We've covered a lot of ground - from understanding what values are, to why they matter, to overcoming obstacles. Today, we're bringing it all together with practical steps to put your values into action every single day.

Think of this as your values toolkit. We're going to fill it with strategies you can use to live a more value-aligned life starting right now.

Let's kick things off with a foundational practice: values clarification. This isn't a one-and-done exercise - it's something you'll want to revisit regularly.

Here are some powerful questions to ask yourself:

- What principles do I want to live by?

- How do I want to be remembered?

- What brings me the most joy and fulfillment?

Take a moment to ponder these. I’ll use myself as an example. I get the most joy and fulfillment from helping people in a positive way. At work, that can look like advocating for my employee in a performance review. At home, that can look like telling the manager of a waitress what an amazing job she did. My answers are different, depending on where I am in life and what environment I’m in. These answers evolve as you do, so make this reflection a regular part of your routine and allow them to change as you change.

Now, let's talk about goal setting - but with a twist. We're going to set goals with heart.

Instead of just focusing on what you want to achieve, consider how you want to achieve it. For example, I value pursuing challenging goals at work and spending time with family and friends. I honor both of those valuable things each time I evaluate what’s on my calendar. I ask myself, “do I feel good about the mix of work and family I have going on right now?”

Let’s talk about you. Think of one goal you have. Now, identify one of your core values. 

Are you pursuing your goal in a way that aligns with your value? If the answer is yes, then give yourself a high five! If the answer is maybe or not really, then think of a small way to adjust how you’re going after that goal. That's setting goals with heart.

Next up: daily check-ins. This is a secret weapon, in my opinion.

I’ve set a reminder on my phone to ask me at the end of each day, "Did you do your best today?" I answer myself in a minute or less, and it serves as a reminder to live by my values. If the answer is yes, then I savor that feeling. If the answer is not quite, then I think about a small change I can make tomorrow to get back on course. 

I encourage you to try this for a week. Set a daily reminder for yourself and answer this question. You might be surprised at how it sharpens your awareness and guides your choices.

Does your support network align with your values? Let's talk about the power of community. Surrounding yourself with people who support your values can be incredibly motivating.

This doesn't mean everyone in your life needs to share all your values all of the time. But having a core group that understands what’s important to you and can relate? That's golden. This could be friends, family, or even an online community.

Take a moment to think about the people you interact with daily. Who in your life supports your values journey? Who in your life could support you if you shared your values with them?

Alright, my final tip is also my favorite tip: the "5 Whys" exercise. This helps you dig deep into your core values. You may recognize it from other uses because it’s a great tool for getting beyond the vague and abstract to the specific things that matter.

Here's how it works:

1. State something important to you.

2. Ask why it's important.

3. Answer.

4. Ask "why" to that answer.

5. Repeat five times.

Let's walk through this example. We start with "Family is important to me."

Why? "Because I love spending time with them."

Why? "Because they make me feel loved and supported."

Why is that important? "Because it gives me a sense of belonging."

Why does that matter? "Because it makes me feel secure and happy."

Why is that significant? "Because feeling secure and happy allows me to be my best self and help others."

See how we went from a general idea of "family" to more specific core values like love, belonging, security, and altruism? That’s powerful! Now that you have specific needs identified, you can also look for ways to add them into other areas of your life so that “family” isn’t the only way to make you feel good.

Now, I have a challenge for you. Try the "5 Whys" with something important to you. Share your final "why" in the comments if you're comfortable. You might inspire someone else's discovery!

Remember, putting your values into practice is a journey made up of small, consistent steps. Maybe choose one value to focus on each week. Find little ways to honor it daily. It could be as simple as a kind word to a stranger if you value kindness, or taking a short walk if you value health.

As we wrap up this series, I want to leave you with this thought: Your values are your superpower. They're the essence of who you are and who you want to be. Living by them isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.

We've covered a lot in these five videos. We've explored what values are, why they matter, how to bridge the value-action gap, how to overcome obstacles, and now, how to put it all into practice. But remember, this is just the beginning of your journey.

Your challenge now is to take what you've learned and apply it. Start today by trying one of these activities for a week. Before you know it, you'll be living a life that truly reflects what matters most to you.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Remember, embracing your values is not just about making positive changes for yourself - it's about inspiring others and creating ripples of authenticity and joy in the world around you.

Until next time, keep shining your unique light. Your values-driven life awaits!