As you think about a values statement, be honest. You could write the statement of what you would like your values to be. Or you could look at the way you have lived your life over the last months and describe objectively what your primary values actually have been. Perhaps there is not much difference between these two potential statements, but do not assume they are identical.

Or to look at values another way, how often have you felt disappointed after you accomplished some important goal? Things we thought we wanted do not offer as much satisfaction as we thought they would.

Sometimes, things for which we strive half our lives turn out to be hollow.

Or, ideas, people, and objects we ignore half our lives turn out to give us unexpected satisfaction.

One thing seems entirely certain. Too many of us choose our values too quickly.

Core values are those attitudes you would hold and actions you would follow even if the world around you did not reward you for them. They are the beliefs you would hold onto even if you had to die for them.

Values are the ideals that guide our choices and actions.

You probably do not have many core values. There just are not that many things for which most of us would put our lives on the line.

But there are some.

Knowing what they are, and writing them down, can be a most enlightening exercise.

MacAdam offers another useful little survey to help you start thinking about your values. It appears on pages 50 and 51 of his book.

Instructions

Now is the time to put this part of your life’s stable hub in place. When you have written this statement, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor using the Assignment submission page.