My Core Values and How They Shape My Decisions

Although our personalities and passions change throughout our lives, our core beliefs and values typically stay rather consistent.

For a long time, I struggled with overcommitting (and still do from time-to-time). I gave too much time away to committees, work projects and Aaron. It was a vicious cycle of exhaustion, equaling a messy house and feelings of bitterness.

I talked to a trusted advisor about this and explained I needed to give up some of my commitments, but I couldn’t decide which ones should stay and which should go.

She told me to examine my core values and then it would be a no-brainer about which commitments or relationships I should leave behind.

Core values were a new concept for me. I knew businesses often had a list of defined core values, but having core values as a person was something I had not thought of. Plus, I loved the idea of choosing to step away from people, places and things that did not align with my core values.

I viewed several lists of core values that are available online and chose a few from each list. Here are the eight core values that I feel are most important to me:

• Accountability – the obligation to explain, justify and take responsibility for one’s actions
• Appreciation – gratitude / the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something
• Compassion – concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others
• Dependability – the quality of being trustworthy and reliable
• Excellence – the quality of being outstanding or extremely good
• Fairness – impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination
• Reliability – the probability that a person will perform their intended function adequately for a specified period of time
• Safety – the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk or injury

I keep this list in the Notes app on my iPhone and review it when I’m making an important decision or choosing how to spend my free time.

If you have a list of core values, feel free to leave yours in the comment section!