Values are a personal expression of who we really are as people. Values clarify our authentic self and give us a road-map to create or invent what we most highly desire to be present in the world. However, values are often misunderstood and misused in leadership. While they get a lot of lip service and are often recorded in the most formal of corporate documents, they rarely create a platform for action. When values are used correctly, they should be seamlessly integrated into daily decision making.
When we make decisions and take action in alignment with our values, we feel energized, passionate and powerful. When our decisions are discordant with our values, we feel bored, stuck and miserable. If you are experiencing any of the five symptoms below, you may be living a life out of alignment with what you really value.
Fatigue
- You awake in the morning with bone-deep fatigue and a foggy mind.
- No amount of coffee will energize you.
- You ask yourself daily, “why am I so tired?”
Overwhelm
- When you look at your to-do list, you want to take a shot of whiskey and go back to bed.
- You feel angry and resentful when others speak to you because they are interrupting the endless conversation you are having with yourself.
- You often ask yourself, “why can’t I get all this stuff done?”
Anxiety
- You feel immense pressure to get things done, but have absolutely no desire to do anything on your task list.
- You feel that your task list is a bottomless pit, and you will never get everything done.
- You ask yourself, “why am I so out of breath? Why are chest, neck and shoulders so tight?”
Boredom
- You feel that you are caught in your own personal Groundhog’s Day, a meaningless repeat of the day before.
- It feels like you are moving through molasses, that there is resistance to everything you do.
- You ask yourself, “why am I not enjoying anything?”
Zoning Out
- You can’t wait to turn on the television and have a cocktail at the end of the day.
- You find yourself taking a mental vacation when you should be listening.
- You ask yourself, “what was I doing?”
If you are experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s time to take stock of what you value most in your life. Next week, I will share how to identify your authentic values. If you haven’t already, sign up online for my weekly insight and guidance newsletter so you don’t miss it.