Homebuilders – Why personal values are important

Our personal values are central in defining our identities, they drive our behaviours and affect our quality of life. Personal values are the strongly held beliefs and standards that shape who we are. They frequently operate subconsciously, but influence our decisions and actions and affect our relationships. Overall, our day-to-day decisions are a reflection of our personal values.

Our values are often greatly influenced by external factors such as family, the media and society at large. Therefore, it is worthwhile checking in with ourselves to see whether we are actually living by what is really important to us and not by what we have been fed over the years by others.

The reason it is so important to know your values is that they create your sense of self and identity. If you’re living according to someone else’s values, you can lose big parts of who you are. Fundamentally, true happiness is a product of authenticity, and we can’t live an authentic life if we live by other peoples’ values.

Additionally, our interactions and relationships with others are shaped by our personal values. They affect how we connect, communicate and work together. We are more likely to build deep, lasting relationships when our values align with those around us. Conversely, disputes can occur when our values differ, emphasising how important it is to recognise that others may hold different personal values, and that’s okay.

Furthermore, personal values function as a moral compass that directs our behaviours and judgements.

They assist us in defining right from wrong and guide our actions. When our behaviour is more in line with our beliefs, this improves our general wellbeing. How then, can we fully come to know what our personal values are?

Discovering what our personal values are takes thought and some contemplation to help us decide what matters to us and what our priorities are in life. You could start by asking yourself questions such as,

“What do I value in relationships?” and “What makes me happy in life?”, as well as “What irritates or angers me?” It’s by asking yourself these sorts of questions that you will increase your awareness of what matters to you.

However, you will need to come up with a language for those responses to strengthen your connection to your values. The internet has many examples of what is called “values lists”, which may be a great place to start. Simply print the list and begin by highlighting words that you agree and identify with.

Another option is to read some articles or books on personal values. One good example is Brene Browns’ resource titled “Living Into Our Values”, which can be downloaded online. All in all, developing a clear sense of your values can be a powerful way of really getting to know yourself and this will have many benefits for your overall wellbeing and sense of who you are.