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We make thousands of choices each day, with little thought to most of them. The choices are automatic; so routine, they're often executed before we realize it. Hit the snooze button on the alarm each morning. Purchase the same shampoo or salad dressing. Take the same route to school, to day care, to work. Stop to say "hi" to a colleague on the way to get coffee at break time. Rush through lunch. Drop the keys on the dresser. Watch the news on the same channel. Stay in the job. Gain weight. Play video games non-stop. Socialize with the same group rather than initiate a new relationship. The iPhone never goes off. And then you wonder why life is the same routine, mundane, rushed, so-so, exhausting, better-than-the- alternative existence? You dreamed of more than this when you were younger. What happened? To begin with, it's important to know your values. The intrinsic things you hold dear and by which you tend to live your life. They aren't good or bad. They may change over time. It's best if the choices you make are aligned with the values you hold dear. At some point, security and safety may have become more important values than risk and independence. It's not a bad thing. The key is being aware of your values and being conscious of the choices you make. Do your choices support your values? If you value connection more than solitiude, you probably choose to spend time with people rather than home alone. If you value leadership and accomplishment more than partnership and romance you may choose to spend more time at work than at home. If you value security more than possibility or perseverance you may not take a new class, submit your resume, start to exercise or initiate a new relationship. If you value adventure and opportunity more than community and completion you may travel the globe or change jobs every couple of years. If you value humor more than safety, you may laugh when a friend slips and falls (immediately after confirming the friend is OK). None of these are right or wrong; they show a connection between your choices and your values. Once you're aware of your values, you can make conscious choices to align with the values you hold most dear. It makes living life a lot easier, and usually a lot more fun. Start thinking about some of the choices you make. What value do you honor when you buy the same toilet paper brand or the one that's always on sale? What choices will you choose to make to more fully honor your values? |