If someone asked you that question I am sure you could rattle off those things that are important to you: faith, family, country, friends, health, financial security.
And the list goes on.
Yet, maybe the better question is…
How aware and committed are you to bringing and keeping the things you value in your life?
Actions speak louder than words
For instance almost everyone mentions family as one of the things they value most. But what if someone in your family (parent, spouse, child) is verbally abusive to you. Should you just “take it” to keep from having conflict?
Your actions answer that question – not what you may say. If you put up with it, then you condone it.
Continuing with family, how much time are you spending with them and while with them are you giving them your total attention? It is not what we say it is what we do that counts.
The same goes for all areas of our lives.
If we say we want financial security, but continually spend more than we make, our actions speak louder than our “intentions.” If health is something you say you value, but you don’t do any regular exercise, again your actions (lack of action) tells me you value other things more than health.
You get the picture.
So how do we become more consistent in valuing the things we say are really important to us?
Follow a plan to get in alignment
A simple three step action plan will help bring things into alignment.
1. Think about what is most important to you – I mean for more that a few minutes.
Schedule a quite hour for yourself (uninterrupted) and write the 5 things you value most and what actions you would take to be congruent in bringing these things into your life as you want them.
2. Take out a schedule and start writing down the actions that are consistent with the things you value.
For instance if it is financial security – you might write down save 5% of each paycheck. Or if it is to get healthy -you would set aside 30 minutes at least 3 or 4 days a week on your schedule for exercise. Or if it is to have a healthier relationship it might be to express clearly what you expect and what you are willing to give to help improve the relationship.
3. At the end of one month review your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Loving all people and being the ‘bigger person’ doesn’t mean letting people do things that are harmful to you.
NOTE: Do the above exercise NOW or at least today! Putting it off till “tomorrow” almost guarantees you will not get around to it. THIS is important!