Knowing Your Values and
Living Authentically

Image Source: peopleimages12; "Man, portrait and climbing on rock in mountain for adventure, sports and explore with fitness and backpack.", 2024. Accessed via https://www.123RF.com/photo_233843081, Standard License.

True fulfillment and happiness come from living authentically and adhering to your core values. However, in today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of societal expectations, peer pressure, and external influences. This article explores the importance of knowing what you stand for and how living by your principles can help you lead a more genuine and satisfying life.

Understanding Your Core Values

Before you can live by your standards, you need to identify what underlies those standards. Your core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your behavior and decision-making. They are the principles you hold most dear and that shape your character. Some common paired core values include:

Integrity and Responsibility
Honesty and Transparency
Forgiveness and Compassion
Respect and Courage
Gratitude and Growth
Justice and Fairness

To discover your core values, reflect on these questions:

What principles do you refuse to compromise on?
What principles do you most respect in others?
What moments in your life have felt most meaningful and why?
What issues or causes are you most passionate about?

The Benefits of Living by Your Values

Once you know your core values it’s time to examine your actions. Do they align? There are numerous benefits to living this way.

Increased self-confidence. Living authentically boosts your self-esteem and helps you feel more secure in your decisions.

Better decision-making. Your values serve as a compass, guiding you towards choices that align with your true self.

Reduced stress and anxiety. When your actions match your beliefs, you experience less internal conflict and emotional turmoil.

Improved relationships. Authenticity builds your ability to examine your role in things that go wrong, and admitting your part fosters more meaningful connections and helps mend wounds. Authenticity attracts like-minded individuals and fosters deeper, more meaningful connections.

Greater resilience. A strong sense of self helps you bounce back from setbacks and stay true to your path.

Navigating External Pressures

You may know your values and are experiencing the benefits of living in alignment with them. However, conflicts will come and can offer a chance to re-examine what your values are. Strategies for overcoming challenges and course correcting vary, but these general suggestions will help re-affirm what is most important to you:

Practice self-awareness by regularly checking in with yourself to ensure your actions align with your values.

Set boundaries with others and say "no" to requests or opportunities that conflict with your values.

Surround yourself with a network of friends and colleagues who respect and encourage your authentic self. Be kind and compassionate to yourself and others when you/they struggle or momentarily falter. Give immediate feedback when possible. Others are also answering the question, "What's it like to be on the other side of me?" and feedback is vital.

Develop a positive mindset. While your core values should remain constant, be open to adjusting your approach or perspective.

Embrace vulnerability by being open about your beliefs and values, even when it feels uncomfortable. When faced with opposition, calmly explain your values and the reasoning behind your choices. Encourage others to do the same, while forgiving yourself and others for not being perfect.

The Long-Term Impact of Living Authentically

By consistently aligning your actions with your core values, you create a ripple effect that extends far beyond your personal life. You become a role model for others, inspiring them to live more authentically. This, in turn, contributes to a society that values individuality, integrity, and genuine connection.

Moreover, living authentically helps you build a legacy that truly reflects who you are. Whether it's through your career achievements, personal relationships, or contributions to your community, your impact on the world will be a genuine expression of your core beliefs and values.

Knowing what you stand for and living life by that standard is a powerful way to navigate the complexities of modern life. By identifying your core values, aligning your actions with your beliefs, and staying true to yourself in the face of external pressures, you can lead a more authentic, fulfilling, and purposeful life. Remember, the journey to authenticity is ongoing, but the rewards of living in harmony with your true self are immeasurable.