Leadership Thought #436 – Are You Aligned With Your Values And Priorities?
I have often heard it said that “if you want to know what a person truly values, pay attention to what they do, not what they say.” Actions do speak louder than words. Many of us are hypocrites and don’t even realize it. I have a professional belief that a considerable amount of unhappiness among leaders stems from their living in conflict with their true values and focusing on the wrong priorities. We are either moving closer to or further away from the person we’d like to be. There is no standing still. The person we become is a direct result of the outcomes we create and the methods we use to achieve them.
Defining success in your life is crucial. We all need to clarify our actual values and priorities, rather than making them up as we go along. Sadly, far too few of us spend enough time reflecting on either of them. In the stress and busyness of everyday life, we often become distracted and follow the path of least resistance, doing what we feel is expected of us by others. There are many traps out there, and we need to be cautious about where we tread (and why), including the importance we place on material things, who we choose as role models and influencers, and who we let into our inner circle.
Values are the guide rails we create in our lives, and our priorities chart our course forward. Our life path ultimately defines us, whether we like it or not. The path matters. The good news is that you can always change direction and get re-centered if you get off track. However, it’s crucial to align your heart, head, and soul. All three must be coordinated with one another. Otherwise, you are beholden to luck and/or happenstance. You might win, but should you even be in this race? Success is often empty if it lacks meaning.
I encourage you to step back and reflect on where you are in your life at this point. Are you aligned with your values and priorities? Are you moving toward or away from the person you genuinely want to be? It’s never too late to make positive changes.
Related articles
- Know Thyself: Beliefs and Values (raybeerhorst.com)
- The Importance of Values (dessylinta.wordpress.com)
- Aligning Work With Personal Values Is the Best Way to Improve Productivity and Happiness At Work, Find the Edge Founder Says (prweb.com)
- Values and Beliefs (sanorainsights.wordpress.com)
- The Importance of Value and Purpose in Goal Achieving – Part 1 (bestselfcoaching.wordpress.com)
- Are Your Personal Values Aligned Along With Your Path To Success? (leccoworkshop.com)
