Your character is shaped by the values you choose to live by. And your core values are a direct result of what you do on a daily basis. To put it another way, it means that you are defined by what you do, not what you say. As Aristotle famously observed: “It has been said that Men develop a particular quality by acting in a particular way constantly. “An honest person, for example, is one who tells the truth all the time. That’s all there is to it. The truth is that as a society, we tend to undervalue the value of core moral principles. We believe that our values have a direct impact on how others perceive us. Nonetheless, values are important. Having a strong sense of values can have a profound effect on our inner world. They are who we are. They are the building blocks of our personality. Because you have to deal with the consequences of your actions, your values should be a top priority in your life. However, what if you don’t have any values? What if you’ve never considered defining your own core values? There are great risks involved with living without values. You run the risk of becoming a faceless clone of everyone else who has ever been faceless. And before you know it, you’ve taken on the morals of those you don’t even know.
As a result of this, we end up relying on our parents, friends or even our partners. We can’t rely on another person’s identity to define who we are. That’s why recently sat down to define my own personal core values to get things straight for myself. I recommend you do the same. Stop trying to be someone you’re not once you’ve figured out who you are. That brings you peace of mind.
Here are some of the most important things to me:
Authenticity – Be true to yourself in all aspects of your life. Don’t act differently in front of your parents, friends, co-workers, in-laws, and strangers. Stay true to your authentic self. And never be afraid of other people’s judgments.
Honesty – Telling the truth is the best policy. Always. Particularly when it pertains to your own life, of course. What if you’re broke? If you think you have a lot of money, don’t pretend to. You haven’t attended a university? Take responsibility for your actions. Let people know the real you by being forthright about your background and actions. In time, you’ll be able to look in the mirror and feel proud of yourself.
Gratitude – We only get one shot at this life. Engage in activities that bring you joy. Doing something you despise for any length of time is a recipe for disaster. Pay attention to the details. Everything from listening to music to going for a walk to laying down to reading a book.
Curiosity – Take an interest in everything you do and try to figure out why you are doing it. This isn’t because you have to. However, it’s fun to learn new things because it’s enjoyable. It’s amazing how much there is to discover in this world. Acknowledge the fact. Try to comprehend it after that. But don’t worry about it. There are some things that cannot be explained. Nevertheless, it’s something to behold.
Responsibility – Own your actions, mistakes and current situation—take full responsibility for your life. Recognize and take full responsibility for the things you can influence. Something not to your taste? It should be revised. Avoid taking responsibility for things that aren’t yours to handle. Focus on your own needs and desires. You have no business worrying about or taking responsibility for what other adults do.
Love – Create close, long-term bonds with a select group of people. Depth is more important than breadth in terms of success. If you’re married, spend more time together than with your co-workers. Get to know your brothers and sisters on a more intimate level. Have at least two or three close friends. The most important thing in life is to care for your loved ones. The people you see on a daily basis deserve your undivided attention.
Fearlessness – You don’t have to fear the future, so don’t be afraid. Let go of the opinions of those you don’t care about. Take into account only your own thoughts and the thoughts of the people you cherish. Everything else is just a distraction. Don’t be snobby. Don’t worry about the consequences if you do what’s right.
Loyalty – Remain loyal, even if you don’t see old friends, co-workers, or teammates. Do not break the trust you’ve built up with someone until it is absolutely necessary. But most importantly, stay true to your own values. Never put your own mental health at risk for the sake of someone else. Take care of yourself as if you were a loved one.
More or fewer values aren’t necessary for my purposes here. To live a long, healthy, and fearless life you need a long list of things. And it’s brief enough to serve as a reminder. Always keep in mind that your values should reflect your true self. Don’t imitate the values of others. With that in mind, I’ve put together this list of 115 common core values that you can use as inspiration. However, this is a purely internal procedure. It’s up to you to find and strengthen the values that already exist within yourself. In his book, the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell summed it up best: As a result, a person’s character is bolstered when all of their thoughts, feelings, and actions are in harmony. Pick your priorities. They’re your best bet. And as you watch, you’ll see how your character develops. You’ll never want to be anything but yourself after that.
