In our last post, we did a quick and simple exercise to help us identify our core values.  We also saw how this helps us gain some initial awareness of why we may not feel as fulfilled or happy with our current situations at work and at home.

If you have not done the exercise, you can do it here.

That was a simplistic and quick exercise to help you get past the sense of overwhelm when asked to do overly complicated exercises in identifying core value. I recommend that you do this exercise on a regular basis as you will adopt slight shifts in your core values due to new perspectives and life experiences. 

Why do we do a Core Value Analysis?
This self awareness is important so we understand ourselves better.  Not knowing our values is like not knowing why we do what we do. Why do I say that?

Although most of us aren't fully aware of our core values, these underlying values guide our decision-making process from the food we eat to the actions we take; from the jobs and friends/partners we choose to the level of honor we exhibit in tough situations. They help establish our goals and give us the sense of purpose; they are the unwritten criteria for our daily actions and choices.

Every action we take or not take with regards to time management, relationship and health can be traced back to our core values. Whether you realize it or not, your life is guided by your set of underlying fundamental core values.

What are Core Values?
They are sometimes described as ethics, virtues, beliefs, guiding principles, ideals and your moral compass and code of honor for which to live life. We formed these values while growing up; we also adopt new values as we go through life.

How do we identify our Core Values?

This is not a comprehensive list, so feel free to add in any that is not here.
For a more comprehensive approach to identifying your core values, just follow the steps below: (If you have done the 2-Questions exercise above, it will help you answer the following).

1 From the table above, choose your top 7 core values
2 Define what they mean to you in your own words
3 On a scale of 1 to 10 describe how aligned you are with your top 7 values
4 Choose and Prioritize your top 3 that you want to work on.

Now you know what areas of your life you want to pay more attention to.

The challenge comes when there is a conflict among the different core values.
And this happens all the time; working mothers know this very well for they need to juggle work/career while taking care of children, spouse/partner, parents, in laws, and community. Often there is no space left for the self.

What would you do when there arise a conflict?
Say a conflict of values between loyalty and justice?
Between time and money?
Between self and others?

Not an easy question to tackle.
Most people find it helpful to work these work with a coach or mentor.

Surely the answer lies not in ignoring, nor denying.
Compromising is not going to be helpful either in the long run. 

Most tension and pressure can be traced to these conflicts. The more we understand our top values and the dynamics of how they work within us, the better we can handle that conflict and thus our stress levels, productivity and sense of fulfilment.

What would you do in the light of such conflicts?