Your deepest “why” is the compass for every choice
I once coached a senior executive named Marie who had it all on paper: tenure, status, and a corner office with a view. Yet she felt restless and disconnected. It wasn’t until she listed her personal values—service, creativity, balance—that the fog lifted. She realized her real concern wasn’t climbing higher but finding more purpose.
Marie started small: each day she brought an extra sandwich to a homeless shelter (service), sketched for ten minutes (creativity), and left the office by six (balance). Those tiny gestures began to reshape her entire outlook.
Through aligning everyday actions with her why, Marie found flow in her work again. Decisions became clearer—she said no to projects that felt soulless and yes to initiatives that spoke to her heart. Other executives noticed the spark she’d regained and wanted to know her secret.
Psychology confirms this: living by your values gives you a stable internal compass that guides behavior even when external circumstances shift, boosting both satisfaction and performance.
Tonight, grab a piece of paper and list three qualities that really matter to you. Pick one—maybe “connection”—and jot down two small ways to live it tomorrow, like calling a friend or having dinner without devices. Track how it changes your mood and energy. Give this a try tomorrow morning.
What You'll Achieve
Gain clarity on your core values to guide daily choices, so you act with authenticity, feel more fulfilled, and make decisions aligned with your personal vision.
Put values on your daily docket
List your core values.
Spend ten minutes writing down what truly matters to you—honesty, creativity, connection, learning. Don’t rush; allow your genuine priorities to surface.
Set a daily compass check.
Each morning, pick one value and ask, “How can I bring this into my day?” List two small actions—for example, if you value kindness, plan to send a grateful text.
Review each evening.
Before bed, note which actions you took and how they felt. If you fell short, brainstorm one tweak to try tomorrow.
Reflection Questions
- Which value feels most urgent right now?
- How might your day unfold differently if you lived that value?
- What tiny habit will remind you of it tomorrow?
Personalization Tips
- At work you value innovation—so volunteer to pitch one new idea at your team meeting next week.
- If you value health but sit too much, promise yourself a 10-minute evening walk and stick Post-It notes on every chair.
- When you value family connection, carve out one evening this week to play a board game—no phones, just laughter.
Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life
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