Gear Up Series: Are the Right Values Driving You?
Let's get real about how our values make or break our efforts.
In the process of getting into values alignment, I had to revisit what was driving me. I found that I wasn’t entirely out of sync, but I was placing emphasis on more individualistic ways of living and being.
CURATED FROM AROUND THE WEB
“Discovering Your Core Values: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions” by
in Healthy Productivity.“The wheel of fear, the path to freedom and embracing the dark night of the soul with Rhonda Britten,” S2 E1. By Anna Rose in The Burnout Rebellion.
“Gen X Curiosity Shop: The messy middle of leaving corporate and finding purpose,” S1 E3. By
in Gen X.
Welcome to our “Gear Up” mini series, where we dive into the things we did in order to prepare for our projects in the new economy. As we consider leaving our corporate jobs, we all have some housecleaning to do. We must let go of outdated notions of success, purpose, and even identity.
Now is the time when women are best positioned to succeed online. We have the opportunity to take our skills, knowledge and experiences and work towards our aspirations while also supporting others.
To build work that truly matters—work that nourishes us, sustains our communities, and aligns with the world we want to help create—we need more than just skills or ambition. We need a clear framework grounded in our values. In the process of getting into values alignment, I had to revisit what was driving me. I found that I wasn’t entirely out of sync, but I was placing emphasis on more individualistic ways of living and being.
This three-part model offers a way to understand and apply our values across every layer of how we work: the foundation of the work itself, the methods we use to get it done, and the mindset we bring to the process.
The work we do needs to be based in foundational values that ground our purpose.
Our methods need to be oriented towards principles that shape how we engage and create.
Our approach needs to be centered on ways of being that reflect who we truly are.
When all three are in alignment, we create work that is not only effective, but also deeply meaningful.
1.
The work we do needs to be based in community, because we no longer have the luxury of working in independent silos. We must find our people and bring them into our projects, so that together we can reach for a better life. It should also be rooted in contribution, viewing our projects as efforts that contribute to a larger change, and understanding the impact and responsibility of what we’re doing.
Cooperation is key: we must lean into the need to communicate, negotiate, and work with others in ways that break down traditional or hierarchical structures. Finally, our work must be grounded in usefulness, applying our skills, aptitudes, experiences, and talents without ego and without causing harm to ourselves or others, focusing on what needs to get done rather than just what we want to do.
2.
Our methods need to be oriented towards accomplishment, prioritizing efforts that give us a genuine sense of progress rather than those tied to vanity metrics or false flags. They should also support balance—work that allows us to be full humans, care for ourselves and our people, and avoid depleting our resources without replenishment.
Freedom must remain central, ensuring that we keep choice at the forefront of our decisions and avoid situations where we feel impinged upon or devalued. Lastly, we need to embrace resourcefulness by using what we have wisely and identifying new sources of support for ourselves and others.
3.
Our approach needs to be centered on openness, allowing ideas, opportunities, and differing points of view to flow toward us and nourish us. If we remain closed, we miss out on the critical support and ideas needed for growth. Creativity is essential; our endeavors should foster the fullest expression of ourselves and others, with variety and abundance.
As Elizabeth Gilbert said, “A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.” Curiosity should lead us, driving the desire to explore and understand ourselves, others, and the world around us. Finally, authenticity is key. We need to maintain a strong center of gravity so we can show up true to what we need, want, and believe.
By living and working through these core values, we deepen our connections with others and engage in meaningful efforts that truly fulfill our needs. As you reflect on your own journey, ask yourself: Which values will guide and empower you moving forward? And which old beliefs or habits are you ready to release in order to create a more authentic, purpose-driven life?
