taking action:
From values to actions
Once you’ve figured out some of your values (remember they’re allowed to change - you might notice they change over time, or perhaps they are different in different situations). The next challenge is to take some values-based action today. Keep it small - you can continue to grow and build on this over the next week (and for the rest of your life), but right now, pause for a moment. Choose one value that you’d like to work on. What’s a behaviour or action that will help you live more consistently with that value? That will help you embody that value?
When coming up with your goal(s) ask yourself: Can you tick this off when it’s complete? Goals can be ticked off a list, but we can’t tick off values. Values guide our moment to moment decision making. Goals are about the actions we take.
For example:
‘Showing kindness to myself’ is a value
‘Take a bath’ is a goal
What is one action you could take today that is consistent with who you want to be? One action that is consistent with your values and how you want to show up in the world.
If you get stuck, at the end of the day, sit back and reflect on the day - notice what were all the things you did that were consistent with who you want to be and what is important to you. Is making the time to take this course, to sit down and read this right now consistent with your values? If so, you’re already making values based decisions! You get to refine and build on this tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Keep checking in - are there ways I showed my values today? How could I build in a little more tomorrow? Without judgement, just aiming to continue moving in the direction of our values moment by moment.
There’s no need to overwhelm yourself with huge tasks here. Go as big or as small as you like.
A word on making your goals SMART:
The practice:
Choose one value from your list and choose one action you could take that helps you move in the direction of this value. If you have a larger action in mind be sure to break it down into bite-sized chunks. Commit to taking action, even if you notice the presence of emotions. Can you feel an emotion (eg anxiety) and still work towards your goal?