Living Our Values

How do we define our values? How do we become clear about what they truly are?
And how do we consciously choose them, again and again?

Living in alignment with our values does not happen by accident. It requires deep inner conversations, moments of looking inward and outward to understand what our values reflect and how they are expressed through our actions. It also asks us to notice the gaps: Are we living according to what matters most to us? And if not, what do we do about it?

These questions become especially important during times of adversity, overload, or burnout when it is hardest, yet most essential, to remain grounded in what we stand for.

What Are Values, Really?

I have learned that values often point to what is most precious to us, what feels deeply meaningful and essential to our sense of self. They reveal what matters most and how we choose to prioritize our time, energy, and attention.

But clarity is key. Without clarity, values remain abstract ideas. With clarity, they become guiding principles for everyday life.

The real inquiry is not only what our values are, but how we prioritize them and whether our daily lives reflect those priorities.

When Values Seem to Oppose Each Other

Through my own intimate search and contemplation, I have discovered that some of my core values include: family, community, independence, freedom.

At times, these values can appear to oppose one another. Yet this tension is part of the personal journey. We are each invited to define what freedom means to us individually and collectively.

For me, freedom looks like having personal space and time for solitude when I need it. Having room to grow, travel, and move, making creative choices, continuing to explore.

It is both movement and belonging. Both independence and connection.

Values in Practice: Daily Life as a Mirror

The end of the year opens a space for reflection. It invites me to look back at where my time went, to refkect on goodbyes, work transitions, travel, and commuting between countries.

It also asks: Where do I want to place my time next? How can my energy better support my values? What needs to shift?

Perhaps it means making art while commuting on trains and buses. Perhaps it means organizing more time with friends. Perhaps it means engaging more deeply with communities that nourish us. Each question opens a new layer of inner connection.

Revisiting Our Values Is a Living Process

Navigating our values is not a one-time decision, it is an ongoing practice.

We need reminders. We need check-ins. We need honesty.

From time to time, it is important to ask: Where do I currently stand in relation to my values? What has changed since the last season of my life? What is asking to be redefined?

Values evolve as we do. Staying aligned means listening closely and choosing consciously.