Defining Values and Honoring What Matters Most – December 18, 2023

The end of the calendar year is an excellent time to look back at the last 12 months and engage in some heartfelt self-reflection, particularly with your personal core values.

We are each presented daily with opportunities to make powerful, impactful choices about our lives. At the end of the year, I like to look back at my choices and consider whether I’d like to make different choices in the new year.

My Core Values of Achievement & Responsibility

This year, I’m noticing that two of my core values of achievement and responsibility were overused, and that’s not a bad thing! I responded to the growth in my business that I absolutely wanted. Every time I said “yes” to a client, it has been an absolute joy to work with them and brought along appropriate levels of challenge to my brain.

At the same time, my responsibilities to my family ratcheted up as my aging mom, who lives out of state, dealt with a growing list of symptoms brought on by Parkinson’s Disease. I had my hands full as we moved her out of her home of nearly 50 years and into a senior living community.

Though my energy was not misplaced, those two values played a bigger role in my life than I think I’d like to see them play in the new year. Through reflection, I have an opportunity to recognize that the value of “achieving” can show up in many different ways. It’s not just about working hard and making money (although that’s how it manifested for me this year!) Yes, I’ll always work hard because that’s who I am, but what else is achievement about? In 2024, what will it be?

I’m also noticing that while achievement and responsibility took most of my attention, a few of my other values took a back seat. How can I invite them into the new year?

My Core Values of Nature, Adventure and Fun, Inspired ConnectionI plan to be very intentional about inviting my other core values of nature, adventure and fun, and inspired connection into my life this coming year. I’ve already mindfully scheduled some skiing (including Big Sky in Montana – a first for us!) and camping trips for me and my son, the kinds of adventures we love to go on together.

More short-term, I’ve gotten back into my daily walking routine and challenging myself to get outside before the sun goes down — no easy feat during the darkest period of the year!

To nurture my value of inspired connection, I’m resuming a book club that I started last year and rekindling a tradition among friends of getting together quarterly. And of course, planning inspired connection with my son as we plan upcoming college visits.

How Will Your 2024 Look?

I invite you to reflect on your values in 2023 and 2024, as well. What’s emerging as being important, from a values perspective? What might have been overused or over-expressed (like my values of achievement and responsibility) in this past year?

When our lives are feeling “off” in any way, it’s often due to an over-expression of a certain value(s), or the fact that other core values are being squelched or under-expressed.

If identifying your personal core values is a new experience for you, I’d love to guide you through it. Click here to connect with me. I also invite you to check out the values work by Brené Brown and Susan David.

Finally, if you’re looking to do some reflection and planning over the holidays, please revisit my December 2022 blog as a reminder about being present during the holiday season. There you’ll also find additional links to reminders on setting boundaries, reflecting on your year, setting intentions for the new year, and choosing your “one word” for the new year.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones!