If I asked you what values you consider foundational in your life, what would you tell me?
As part of my life coach training, I was required to develop a list of my core values. To be honest with you, I had never really given them much thought. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what the term ‘core values’ fully meant. I knew what values were, but it helped me so much to get an actual definition of core values into my head. So, in case you need that same definition, here it is:
Core Values are the values we hold dear that form the foundation of our lives.
Does that help you as much as it helped me?
Now that we have a working definition, may I share what I came up with for my core values?
Christ Follower
Integrity
Dependability
Humility
Generosity
Strong Work Ethic
Authenticity
Control
“The most important thing is to decide what is the most important thing.”
This quote by Bill Montgomery helped me look at a very long potential list of values and decide which ones describe me. The list was not exhaustive and I added a couple of words to it. I circled about 15 or so from the big list, then pondered a bit longer to pare the list down to what you see above.
Christ Follower is my number ONE, absolute core value, although it was not part of the original list provided to me. My faith in Jesus Christ informs every part of my life. It guides me in my relationships, actions, words, and thoughts. More than anything in this world, I want to live a life that reflects Jesus’ love and grace to other people and causes them to want Him in their lives.
May I share just a moment about integrity, which would be my second core value?
‘The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles’ is how integrity is defined. My ‘yes’ should be ‘yes’ and my ‘no’ should be ‘no. I want people to be able to believe what I tell them and not wonder if I am lying. There is an epidemic of lying in our world today, from the church house to the White House, as my Daddy used to say. I do not want to be part of that epidemic. If I am a follower of Christ my life should ooze integrity, and so should yours.
There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to core values and it is important that we can identify our own. If we can not, we have nothing on which to build our life.
This core values exercise is one of the ways a life coach helps their clients move from where they are currently to where God wants them to be. It is my pleasure to work with clients to discover their core values and help them develop a plan to live out those values.
What are your core values? (share them in the comments)
Does the way you live your life reflect those values?
What obstacles are preventing you from living out your core values?
If core values are something you would like to work on with a life coach, I would be honored to help you. Click over to my (newly redesigned) website and learn more about what coaching offers you. It would be my privilege to work with you.
SDG/FCA!!
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. If you are reading via email, please click HERE to be taken to my website in order to view the links.
