May 22, 2024 • 18 mins
Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions, unsure if the path you're on aligns with what's truly important to you? Join me, Albert, as we embark on a journey to discover how identifying and living by your core values can transform your life into one of purpose and fulfillment. Let's talk about the tricky terrain of societal expectations and how they often lead us away from our true north. Let's learn to differentiate between the values that define us and the goals we chase, ensuring that every step we take is one towards a life brimming with intention and satisfaction.
This session isn't just about finding what matters; it's about actively living a life that reflects those discoveries. We'll explore setting daily intentions rooted in values like kindness and gratitude, which foster a reinforcing cycle of positive behaviors. Through stories of personal contentment and distress, learn to excavate your authentic values, moving beyond mere titles and roles. I'll share actionable strategies for making your values a daily practice, turning everyday decisions into opportunities for growth and self-reflection. So tune in, and together let's sculpt a life that's not just lived, but truly cherished.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
How are you?
I hope you're taking thatvaluable moment right now for
yourself as you tune in.
This is Albert, a therapistwho's passionate about helping
people find clarity andfulfillment in their lives, and
today I want to talk to youabout something incredibly
important knowing and livingyour values.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
You're listening to Mind Manners, hosted by licensed
psychotherapist Albert Nguyen.
Albert helps his clientsovercome past trauma, change
their mindset and acceleratetheir personal and professional
development.
This podcast covers a widerange of mental health and
self-development topics, witheach episode offering an
actionable step towards a betteryou.
(00:40):
If you're on a wellness journey, keep listening.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Have you ever felt like you're just wandering
through life without a cleardirection, moving through your
day-to-day on autopilot andfeeling empty and unfulfilled?
It's a feeling many of usexperience at some point,
probably more often than we'dcare to admit.
I believe that this is deeplycorrelated to having a lack of
(01:04):
meaning in our lives.
We don't have clarity in whatwe're doing, why we're doing it,
why we think what we think, whywe're struggling, why we feel
so empty and without meaning, alot of our problems just don't
feel worthwhile.
So it's easy to finddistractions to avoid it all.
When we lack strong anchors tokeep us grounded in what truly
(01:24):
matters, we will lose ourselvesalong this journey of living our
lives.
We all need to develop our ownmetaphorical internal compass to
brave the wilderness and tohelp us navigate through life.
And with this compass we needto figure out our true north, to
always lead us back on theright path when we get lost.
I've seen firsthand howunderstanding and living by our
(01:46):
values can truly transform ourlives.
Yet most of us never take thetime to sit down and define what
truly matters to us.
Instead, we often passively andsubconsciously adopt societal
norms and play a role based onexpectations without really
questioning if they align withwho we are as individuals.
(02:07):
Think about it.
How often do you reflect onwhat drives you, what you stand
for, what you're willing tofight for and suffer for, and
what gives your life meaning?
Without this clarity, we losesight of our true north.
In all the noise anddistractions, we end up feeling
off course, unfulfilled anddisconnected from our core
(02:27):
selves.
Today, I want to talk about whythis is all important and why
you need to find clarity,rediscover your core values and
understand how living inalignment with them can bring a
renewed sense of purpose anddirection to your life.
From my observations over theyears as a therapist, I've
witnessed that we betrayourselves all the time by
(02:48):
violating our own values andcompromising them for ideas and
ways of living that are nottruly important to us, and we do
so without really knowing.
Sometimes we trap ourselves inother people's opinions and
judgments and even rationalizethat this is the right way to
live.
This self-betrayal leads tounhappiness and a sense of
(03:08):
disconnection A disconnectionfrom ourselves.
But our emotions constantlysignal us when we ignore or
stray from our values.
We feel uneasy, irritated,dissatisfied and sometimes even
stuck and lost.
But imagine waking up each daywith a sense of purpose, having
(03:28):
clear intentions, makingdecisions that align with your
deepest beliefs, and feelingtruly connected to what you are
doing in life and fulfilled inevery aspect of your life Sounds
amazing, right?
Living a more meaningful andfulfilling life, one where your
decisions, lifestyle struggles,achievements and actions enhance
the overall quality offulfilling life, one where your
decisions, lifestyle struggles,achievements and actions enhance
the overall quality of yourlife.
(03:49):
It all starts with knowing yourvalues.
Values are more than justabstract ideas.
They are personal truths andconcepts and principles that
shape our thoughts, beliefs,emotions, decisions and actions.
They reflect what matters to usand what we find meaningful in
life.
When we live in alignment withour values, we experience a
(04:11):
profound sense of purpose.
But many people struggle with alack of clarity about their
values, leading to a feeling ofbeing lost or disconnected.
In my work as a therapist, I'vefound that most people haven't
taken the time to define theirvalues.
What's sad is that many aremore familiar with their
workplace's mission and corevalues than their own.
(04:34):
This happens because we don'tnaturally sit down and reflect
on what truly matters to us and,like I said earlier, over time
we tend to adopt aninterpretation of the values of
society or those around us,without questioning if they
resonate with what we believe tobe true to ourselves.
This can lead to inner conflict.
(04:56):
It is important to develop areflective habit to understand
our emotions.
Our emotions often act asindicators when we are ignoring
something important or havestrayed from our values.
When we feel uneasy,dissatisfied or persistently
unhappy despite external success, it's usually a sign that we
(05:16):
are not living in accordancewith our true values.
Usually a sign that we are notliving in accordance with our
true values.
This journey of understandingyour values requires
introspection and reflection onwhat actually brings you
fulfillment.
It's easier said than done, ofcourse.
It's not a quick process, butit's essential for leading an
authentic life.
Choosing your values should bea deliberate act of
(05:38):
self-reflection.
And remember values are notstatic.
They evolve as we grow andexperience new situations, and
it's important to regularlyrevisit and reassess your values
.
This continuous process helpsyou face life's challenges with
greater clarity and confidence.
Now that we've talked about therole of values in our lives
(06:00):
clarity and confidence Now thatwe've talked about the role of
values in our lives, let'sexplore how we can truly
understand and live by ourvalues.
I want you to understand thatvalues are not goals.
Goals are specific targets wecan achieve and check off a list
.
Values are ongoing principleswe strive to embody every day of
our lives.
Think about the value of healthnot as a goal, like losing 10
(06:22):
pounds, but as a continuouspractice of eating well and
exercising regularly.
And, like any transformationand sustainable change, we need
to make it a lifestyle,essentially a way of life.
Living by your values meansintegrating them into your daily
routines.
Start simple.
Frequency matters more thancomplexity.
(06:43):
From my experience working withpatients, I often suggest
beginning with small, manageableactions.
Over time, these simple,consistent practices evolve and
become more sophisticated asthey merge with your daily life.
So keep that in mind.
Daily practice is key, even ifit's only a few seconds
throughout the day.
You might be wondering how doesthat lead to any significant
(07:07):
change?
It's simple.
A lot of us suffer fromperfectionism and
procrastination, which oftenprevents many of us from even
starting anything, let alonepracticing.
I would rather you practicesomething for one minute a day,
every day, than just one hourper a month.
Having an intention and thenfollowing through and running
the course of that behavioralpattern reinforces commitment
(07:30):
and integrity.
It creates a feedback loop thatstrengthens your commitment to
your values.
So let's say, if kindness isone of your core values, set a
daily intention to perform asmall act of kindness, or even
deliberately thinking of a kindthought within a day To avoid
feeling overwhelmed.
Focus on one or two values eachday.
(08:02):
This allows you to engagedeeply without spreading
yourself too thin.
As you keep these values infocus, you'll find new and
creative ways to express them,and you will also realize how
they all overlap and can easilybranch out and transform into
other values that you care about.
I recall one patient whoinitially struggled with the
(08:23):
idea of living by their values.
They saw it as too abstract fortheir busy life.
But by starting with smallsteps, like setting daily
intentions and ending their dayson reflection with their
actions, they began to weavetheir values into their everyday
routine.
This approach helped them feelmore connected to their purpose
(08:43):
and more in control of theirlife.
Remember, living your values isa journey.
It takes patience, reflectionand consistent effort, but the
rewards are immense A lifealigned with your deepest
beliefs, filled with purpose andfulfillment.
So how do we even begin toidentify our values?
(09:04):
Well, let me say thatidentifying your values is a
crucial part of answering thefundamental question who are you
?
This question goes beyond whatyou do for work, your cultural
background, your nationality,biology, socioeconomic status,
gender or sexuality.
It's not about the labels orgroups you identify with, the
(09:24):
roles you play, your hobbies oryour daily activities.
These are all surface-levelconstructs.
Who we are is much moremultifaceted and deeper than
these superficial identifiers.
It's natural for many of us toanswer this question with
shallow responses, using wordsand labels that have a world of
meaning behind them that we'venever truly defined for
(09:46):
ourselves.
We often assume that theselabels come with a set of
prescribed meanings andconnotations, but no two people
are alike.
Interpretations differ, so weneed to ask questions like where
did these meanings come from,how did you come to understand
them the way you do, and why areyou drawn to certain labels and
not others?
(10:07):
In my work with patients,exploring values is almost
always a part of the treatmentprocess.
Many people identify themselvesthrough labels related to their
work, education, what theyspend their time doing most and
other social roles.
The deeper work comes fromquestioning why those labels are
important.
When we start to peel backthese layers, we often uncover
(10:29):
the deeper, underlying corevalues that drive us.
For example, someone whoidentifies strongly with their
career might realize that theirunderlying value is not just
about the job itself, but aboutachievement, providing for their
family or making a differencein their community.
It's about understanding thewhy and the why does that matter
(10:49):
that extracts what's behind thelabel.
Through this process, we oftenfind deeper values far beyond
the labels, and sometimes weeven let go of those labels,
realizing that there areunifying and universal
principles we were all strivingfor, such as being a good person
and defining what good means toeach of us.
Every individual has their ownunique set of values, and only
(11:14):
you can define what they are foryourself.
This process of explorationtakes time because values are
complex and deeply rooted inboth our conscious and
unconscious minds.
Values are implicit motivatorsthat influence our emotions,
thoughts and behaviors.
They are the fuel that drivesus to maintain discipline with
our actions and helps usprogress in life.
(11:36):
Understanding and aligning withyour values can lead to
self-expansion and fullerself-actualization.
This journey begins withidentifying simple words and
exploring how they manifest inour lives.
It's about discovering yourpersonal truth behind these
values and allowing them toauthentically guide your life.
By understanding what trulymatters to you, you can live a
(11:58):
life that is more intentionaland aligned with your deepest
beliefs.
So take some time to reflect.
I invite you to think aboutyour own life.
What labels do you use and whatdeeper values might they
represent?
Think about moments when youfelt truly content and fulfilled
.
Maybe even think about themoments you were deeply upset
(12:19):
and hurt.
What were you doing?
What happened?
Who were you with?
Why does it matter?
These moments can reveal a lotabout your core values and
remember.
Clarifying your values is anongoing process.
As you grow and experience newthings, your values evolve
Regularly.
Revisiting and reassessing yourvalues ensures they remain
aligned with who you are and whoyou want to become.
(12:41):
I know I've emphasized a lot onthe importance of digging deep
and reflecting on your emotions,behaviors and thoughts,
understanding where they comefrom and why you identify with
certain things.
All these reflective practicesare essential for cultivating
your authentic self, but theycan't take place without the
most fundamental part practicingyour values daily in your
(13:02):
habits.
If you find yourself stuck inanalysis, just pick one or two
values and start integratingthem into your daily life.
I believe in empowering youwith simple, actionable steps
that you can start practicingright away.
I understand that the initialresistance to begin is often the
hardest part.
Life is about practicing, notperfection, so begin
(13:26):
incorporating a value or twointo your daily actions.
With that said, let's talkabout practical strategies for
living your values.
This part of the journeyrequires intentionality and
consistent effort.
Habit formation is all aboutkeeping it simple so that you
can sustain it and integrate itinto your lifestyle.
Don't wait until you have aperfectly clear definition of
(13:48):
your values to start.
Think of it as a livingdocument that evolves as you
practice and engage with it.
Here are three practicalstrategies to help you integrate
your values into your dailyroutine Set daily intentions.
Each morning, take a few momentsto reflect on your core values
and set intentions for how youwill embody them throughout the
(14:10):
day.
For example, if one of yourvalues is gratitude, decide to
practice gratitude at least onceeach day.
For example, if one of yourvalues is gratitude, decide to
practice gratitude at least onceeach day.
Setting these daily intentionshelps keep your values at the
forefront of your mind andguides your actions.
In my practice, I've seen howpowerful setting daily
intentions can be.
One patient who struggled withfeeling disconnected from their
(14:31):
values began each day by writingdown a simple intention related
to their core values.
Over time, they found thatthese small, intentional acts
brought them a greater sense offulfillment, in alignment with
their true self.
Reflect and adjust.
At the end of each day, take afew minutes to reflect on how
well you lived according to yourvalues, identify areas where
(14:54):
you succeeded and areas whereyou can improve.
This daily reflectionreinforces your commitment and
allows you to make adjustmentsas needed, ensuring continuous
growth and alignment with yourvalues.
I've practiced this myself andfound it incredibly helpful.
After a particularlychallenging day, I'll sit down
and think about how my actionsaligned or didn't align with my
(15:17):
values.
This reflection helps merecognize patterns and make
conscious changes to betterembody my values in the next day
.
Simplify and prioritize.
Focus on one to two core valuesat a time to avoid feeling
overwhelmed.
Simplifying your approachallows you to concentrate your
efforts and see more significantprogress.
(15:38):
Over time, as these valuesbecome more integrated into your
life, you can graduallyincorporate additional values.
Living by your values requirespatience, reflection and
consistent practice.
But remember, the goal is notperfection, it's progress.
As you practice thesestrategies, you'll find that
(15:59):
your values become more deeplyingrained in your daily life,
guiding your actions anddecisions more naturally.
In the end, working onidentifying your values and
using them to manage youremotions and foster growth is an
antidote to many of theproblems we face by adulthood.
Our personalities and valuesare usually well-formed, guiding
our lives like a compass.
(16:20):
Strong and refined valuesfueled by intense emotions
provide optimism and resilienceagainst life's challenges.
Embracing our values humanizesus and fosters a sense of common
humanity.
Embracing our values humanizesus and fosters a sense of common
humanity, reminding us of ourshared purpose and the
importance of living a lifealigned with our deepest
convictions.
Understanding and living yourvalues is not just a
(16:43):
philosophical exercise.
It's a practical approach tonavigating life with clarity and
purpose.
Practicing your values is anact of standing up for your
beliefs, who you are and whatyou stand for.
Your behaviors then become asymbol that unifies you with
humanity and universal needs.
Drinking a cup of tea,exercising or working a job will
(17:06):
no longer feel mundane.
It will tie you to your reasonsfor living.
As you reflect on your valuesand align your actions with them
, you'll find a renewed sense ofdirection and fulfillment,
enriching both your life and thelives of those around you.
Additionally, holding yourselfaccountable, whether through
self-reflection, journaling orsharing your journey with a
(17:29):
trusted friend or therapist cansignificantly reinforce your
commitment to living by yourvalues.
By defining and living by yourvalues, you create a foundation
for personal integrity and apurposeful life, helping you
navigate challenges withconfidence and clarity.
So take that first step.
Identify your core values,integr them into your daily life
(17:53):
and watch as your worldtransforms.
Embrace it with an open heartand mind and you'll discover the
profound impact living yourvalues can have on your life.
Thank you for joining me inthis session.
If you found this discussionhelpful, please share it with
someone who might benefit fromit.
Remember to subscribe and tunein for our next session.
(18:14):
Until then, take care and keepliving with intention.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Thanks for tuning in to Mind Manners with Albert
Nguyen.
We hope you found value in thisepisode.
If you'd like to work withAlbert one-on-one, visit
OptiMindCounselingcom to learnmore about his private practice.
Looking to join a community oflike-minded individuals?
Search Mind Manners Podcast.
Thank you,
How are you?
I hope you're taking thatvaluable moment right now for
yourself as you tune in.
This is Albert, a therapistwho's passionate about helping
people find clarity andfulfillment in their lives, and
today I want to talk to youabout something incredibly
important knowing and livingyour values.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
You're listening to Mind Manners, hosted by licensed
psychotherapist Albert Nguyen.
Albert helps his clientsovercome past trauma, change
their mindset and acceleratetheir personal and professional
development.
This podcast covers a widerange of mental health and
self-development topics, witheach episode offering an
actionable step towards a betteryou.
(00:40):
If you're on a wellness journey, keep listening.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Have you ever felt like you're just wandering
through life without a cleardirection, moving through your
day-to-day on autopilot andfeeling empty and unfulfilled?
It's a feeling many of usexperience at some point,
probably more often than we'dcare to admit.
I believe that this is deeplycorrelated to having a lack of
(01:04):
meaning in our lives.
We don't have clarity in whatwe're doing, why we're doing it,
why we think what we think, whywe're struggling, why we feel
so empty and without meaning, alot of our problems just don't
feel worthwhile.
So it's easy to finddistractions to avoid it all.
When we lack strong anchors tokeep us grounded in what truly
(01:24):
matters, we will lose ourselvesalong this journey of living our
lives.
We all need to develop our ownmetaphorical internal compass to
brave the wilderness and tohelp us navigate through life.
And with this compass we needto figure out our true north, to
always lead us back on theright path when we get lost.
I've seen firsthand howunderstanding and living by our
(01:46):
values can truly transform ourlives.
Yet most of us never take thetime to sit down and define what
truly matters to us.
Instead, we often passively andsubconsciously adopt societal
norms and play a role based onexpectations without really
questioning if they align withwho we are as individuals.
(02:07):
Think about it.
How often do you reflect onwhat drives you, what you stand
for, what you're willing tofight for and suffer for, and
what gives your life meaning?
Without this clarity, we losesight of our true north.
In all the noise anddistractions, we end up feeling
off course, unfulfilled anddisconnected from our core
(02:27):
selves.
Today, I want to talk about whythis is all important and why
you need to find clarity,rediscover your core values and
understand how living inalignment with them can bring a
renewed sense of purpose anddirection to your life.
From my observations over theyears as a therapist, I've
witnessed that we betrayourselves all the time by
(02:48):
violating our own values andcompromising them for ideas and
ways of living that are nottruly important to us, and we do
so without really knowing.
Sometimes we trap ourselves inother people's opinions and
judgments and even rationalizethat this is the right way to
live.
This self-betrayal leads tounhappiness and a sense of
(03:08):
disconnection A disconnectionfrom ourselves.
But our emotions constantlysignal us when we ignore or
stray from our values.
We feel uneasy, irritated,dissatisfied and sometimes even
stuck and lost.
But imagine waking up each daywith a sense of purpose, having
(03:28):
clear intentions, makingdecisions that align with your
deepest beliefs, and feelingtruly connected to what you are
doing in life and fulfilled inevery aspect of your life Sounds
amazing, right?
Living a more meaningful andfulfilling life, one where your
decisions, lifestyle struggles,achievements and actions enhance
the overall quality offulfilling life, one where your
decisions, lifestyle struggles,achievements and actions enhance
the overall quality of yourlife.
(03:49):
It all starts with knowing yourvalues.
Values are more than justabstract ideas.
They are personal truths andconcepts and principles that
shape our thoughts, beliefs,emotions, decisions and actions.
They reflect what matters to usand what we find meaningful in
life.
When we live in alignment withour values, we experience a
(04:11):
profound sense of purpose.
But many people struggle with alack of clarity about their
values, leading to a feeling ofbeing lost or disconnected.
In my work as a therapist, I'vefound that most people haven't
taken the time to define theirvalues.
What's sad is that many aremore familiar with their
workplace's mission and corevalues than their own.
(04:34):
This happens because we don'tnaturally sit down and reflect
on what truly matters to us and,like I said earlier, over time
we tend to adopt aninterpretation of the values of
society or those around us,without questioning if they
resonate with what we believe tobe true to ourselves.
This can lead to inner conflict.
(04:56):
It is important to develop areflective habit to understand
our emotions.
Our emotions often act asindicators when we are ignoring
something important or havestrayed from our values.
When we feel uneasy,dissatisfied or persistently
unhappy despite external success, it's usually a sign that we
(05:16):
are not living in accordancewith our true values.
Usually a sign that we are notliving in accordance with our
true values.
This journey of understandingyour values requires
introspection and reflection onwhat actually brings you
fulfillment.
It's easier said than done, ofcourse.
It's not a quick process, butit's essential for leading an
authentic life.
Choosing your values should bea deliberate act of
(05:38):
self-reflection.
And remember values are notstatic.
They evolve as we grow andexperience new situations, and
it's important to regularlyrevisit and reassess your values
.
This continuous process helpsyou face life's challenges with
greater clarity and confidence.
Now that we've talked about therole of values in our lives
(06:00):
clarity and confidence Now thatwe've talked about the role of
values in our lives, let'sexplore how we can truly
understand and live by ourvalues.
I want you to understand thatvalues are not goals.
Goals are specific targets wecan achieve and check off a list
.
Values are ongoing principleswe strive to embody every day of
our lives.
Think about the value of healthnot as a goal, like losing 10
(06:22):
pounds, but as a continuouspractice of eating well and
exercising regularly.
And, like any transformationand sustainable change, we need
to make it a lifestyle,essentially a way of life.
Living by your values meansintegrating them into your daily
routines.
Start simple.
Frequency matters more thancomplexity.
(06:43):
From my experience working withpatients, I often suggest
beginning with small, manageableactions.
Over time, these simple,consistent practices evolve and
become more sophisticated asthey merge with your daily life.
So keep that in mind.
Daily practice is key, even ifit's only a few seconds
throughout the day.
You might be wondering how doesthat lead to any significant
(07:07):
change?
It's simple.
A lot of us suffer fromperfectionism and
procrastination, which oftenprevents many of us from even
starting anything, let alonepracticing.
I would rather you practicesomething for one minute a day,
every day, than just one hourper a month.
Having an intention and thenfollowing through and running
the course of that behavioralpattern reinforces commitment
(07:30):
and integrity.
It creates a feedback loop thatstrengthens your commitment to
your values.
So let's say, if kindness isone of your core values, set a
daily intention to perform asmall act of kindness, or even
deliberately thinking of a kindthought within a day To avoid
feeling overwhelmed.
Focus on one or two values eachday.
(08:02):
This allows you to engagedeeply without spreading
yourself too thin.
As you keep these values infocus, you'll find new and
creative ways to express them,and you will also realize how
they all overlap and can easilybranch out and transform into
other values that you care about.
I recall one patient whoinitially struggled with the
(08:23):
idea of living by their values.
They saw it as too abstract fortheir busy life.
But by starting with smallsteps, like setting daily
intentions and ending their dayson reflection with their
actions, they began to weavetheir values into their everyday
routine.
This approach helped them feelmore connected to their purpose
(08:43):
and more in control of theirlife.
Remember, living your values isa journey.
It takes patience, reflectionand consistent effort, but the
rewards are immense A lifealigned with your deepest
beliefs, filled with purpose andfulfillment.
So how do we even begin toidentify our values?
(09:04):
Well, let me say thatidentifying your values is a
crucial part of answering thefundamental question who are you
?
This question goes beyond whatyou do for work, your cultural
background, your nationality,biology, socioeconomic status,
gender or sexuality.
It's not about the labels orgroups you identify with, the
(09:24):
roles you play, your hobbies oryour daily activities.
These are all surface-levelconstructs.
Who we are is much moremultifaceted and deeper than
these superficial identifiers.
It's natural for many of us toanswer this question with
shallow responses, using wordsand labels that have a world of
meaning behind them that we'venever truly defined for
(09:46):
ourselves.
We often assume that theselabels come with a set of
prescribed meanings andconnotations, but no two people
are alike.
Interpretations differ, so weneed to ask questions like where
did these meanings come from,how did you come to understand
them the way you do, and why areyou drawn to certain labels and
not others?
(10:07):
In my work with patients,exploring values is almost
always a part of the treatmentprocess.
Many people identify themselvesthrough labels related to their
work, education, what theyspend their time doing most and
other social roles.
The deeper work comes fromquestioning why those labels are
important.
When we start to peel backthese layers, we often uncover
(10:29):
the deeper, underlying corevalues that drive us.
For example, someone whoidentifies strongly with their
career might realize that theirunderlying value is not just
about the job itself, but aboutachievement, providing for their
family or making a differencein their community.
It's about understanding thewhy and the why does that matter
(10:49):
that extracts what's behind thelabel.
Through this process, we oftenfind deeper values far beyond
the labels, and sometimes weeven let go of those labels,
realizing that there areunifying and universal
principles we were all strivingfor, such as being a good person
and defining what good means toeach of us.
Every individual has their ownunique set of values, and only
(11:14):
you can define what they are foryourself.
This process of explorationtakes time because values are
complex and deeply rooted inboth our conscious and
unconscious minds.
Values are implicit motivatorsthat influence our emotions,
thoughts and behaviors.
They are the fuel that drivesus to maintain discipline with
our actions and helps usprogress in life.
(11:36):
Understanding and aligning withyour values can lead to
self-expansion and fullerself-actualization.
This journey begins withidentifying simple words and
exploring how they manifest inour lives.
It's about discovering yourpersonal truth behind these
values and allowing them toauthentically guide your life.
By understanding what trulymatters to you, you can live a
(11:58):
life that is more intentionaland aligned with your deepest
beliefs.
So take some time to reflect.
I invite you to think aboutyour own life.
What labels do you use and whatdeeper values might they
represent?
Think about moments when youfelt truly content and fulfilled
.
Maybe even think about themoments you were deeply upset
(12:19):
and hurt.
What were you doing?
What happened?
Who were you with?
Why does it matter?
These moments can reveal a lotabout your core values and
remember.
Clarifying your values is anongoing process.
As you grow and experience newthings, your values evolve
Regularly.
Revisiting and reassessing yourvalues ensures they remain
aligned with who you are and whoyou want to become.
(12:41):
I know I've emphasized a lot onthe importance of digging deep
and reflecting on your emotions,behaviors and thoughts,
understanding where they comefrom and why you identify with
certain things.
All these reflective practicesare essential for cultivating
your authentic self, but theycan't take place without the
most fundamental part practicingyour values daily in your
(13:02):
habits.
If you find yourself stuck inanalysis, just pick one or two
values and start integratingthem into your daily life.
I believe in empowering youwith simple, actionable steps
that you can start practicingright away.
I understand that the initialresistance to begin is often the
hardest part.
Life is about practicing, notperfection, so begin
(13:26):
incorporating a value or twointo your daily actions.
With that said, let's talkabout practical strategies for
living your values.
This part of the journeyrequires intentionality and
consistent effort.
Habit formation is all aboutkeeping it simple so that you
can sustain it and integrate itinto your lifestyle.
Don't wait until you have aperfectly clear definition of
(13:48):
your values to start.
Think of it as a livingdocument that evolves as you
practice and engage with it.
Here are three practicalstrategies to help you integrate
your values into your dailyroutine Set daily intentions.
Each morning, take a few momentsto reflect on your core values
and set intentions for how youwill embody them throughout the
(14:10):
day.
For example, if one of yourvalues is gratitude, decide to
practice gratitude at least onceeach day.
For example, if one of yourvalues is gratitude, decide to
practice gratitude at least onceeach day.
Setting these daily intentionshelps keep your values at the
forefront of your mind andguides your actions.
In my practice, I've seen howpowerful setting daily
intentions can be.
One patient who struggled withfeeling disconnected from their
(14:31):
values began each day by writingdown a simple intention related
to their core values.
Over time, they found thatthese small, intentional acts
brought them a greater sense offulfillment, in alignment with
their true self.
Reflect and adjust.
At the end of each day, take afew minutes to reflect on how
well you lived according to yourvalues, identify areas where
(14:54):
you succeeded and areas whereyou can improve.
This daily reflectionreinforces your commitment and
allows you to make adjustmentsas needed, ensuring continuous
growth and alignment with yourvalues.
I've practiced this myself andfound it incredibly helpful.
After a particularlychallenging day, I'll sit down
and think about how my actionsaligned or didn't align with my
(15:17):
values.
This reflection helps merecognize patterns and make
conscious changes to betterembody my values in the next day
.
Simplify and prioritize.
Focus on one to two core valuesat a time to avoid feeling
overwhelmed.
Simplifying your approachallows you to concentrate your
efforts and see more significantprogress.
(15:38):
Over time, as these valuesbecome more integrated into your
life, you can graduallyincorporate additional values.
Living by your values requirespatience, reflection and
consistent practice.
But remember, the goal is notperfection, it's progress.
As you practice thesestrategies, you'll find that
(15:59):
your values become more deeplyingrained in your daily life,
guiding your actions anddecisions more naturally.
In the end, working onidentifying your values and
using them to manage youremotions and foster growth is an
antidote to many of theproblems we face by adulthood.
Our personalities and valuesare usually well-formed, guiding
our lives like a compass.
(16:20):
Strong and refined valuesfueled by intense emotions
provide optimism and resilienceagainst life's challenges.
Embracing our values humanizesus and fosters a sense of common
humanity.
Embracing our values humanizesus and fosters a sense of common
humanity, reminding us of ourshared purpose and the
importance of living a lifealigned with our deepest
convictions.
Understanding and living yourvalues is not just a
(16:43):
philosophical exercise.
It's a practical approach tonavigating life with clarity and
purpose.
Practicing your values is anact of standing up for your
beliefs, who you are and whatyou stand for.
Your behaviors then become asymbol that unifies you with
humanity and universal needs.
Drinking a cup of tea,exercising or working a job will
(17:06):
no longer feel mundane.
It will tie you to your reasonsfor living.
As you reflect on your valuesand align your actions with them
, you'll find a renewed sense ofdirection and fulfillment,
enriching both your life and thelives of those around you.
Additionally, holding yourselfaccountable, whether through
self-reflection, journaling orsharing your journey with a
(17:29):
trusted friend or therapist cansignificantly reinforce your
commitment to living by yourvalues.
By defining and living by yourvalues, you create a foundation
for personal integrity and apurposeful life, helping you
navigate challenges withconfidence and clarity.
So take that first step.
Identify your core values,integr them into your daily life
(17:53):
and watch as your worldtransforms.
Embrace it with an open heartand mind and you'll discover the
profound impact living yourvalues can have on your life.
Thank you for joining me inthis session.
If you found this discussionhelpful, please share it with
someone who might benefit fromit.
Remember to subscribe and tunein for our next session.
(18:14):
Until then, take care and keepliving with intention.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Thanks for tuning in to Mind Manners with Albert
Nguyen.
We hope you found value in thisepisode.
If you'd like to work withAlbert one-on-one, visit
OptiMindCounselingcom to learnmore about his private practice.
Looking to join a community oflike-minded individuals?
Search Mind Manners Podcast.
Thank you,
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