What's Important to You?

I've been doing some soul searching. While doing manuscript revisions yesterday, I learned something about myself. This happens a lot while writing about things from your heart, I guess.

I have spent a lot of time writing about values, the things to which we assign worth. In other words, what is important to you.

At first, I thought values had to be lofty principles like freedom, honesty, integrity, and fairness. Then I realized there are all kinds of things that are important to me, and all of them shape who I am.

The not-so-lofty things that are currently important to me:

• Communicating well with my teenage stepdaughter
• Sleep
• Simple lifestyle, no complications, or wasted time
• Being real instead of putting on the white-washed glow of "everything's fine"
• Doing a job thoroughly the first time
• Perennial plants
• Dinners I'm good at making without having to read a recipe
• Comfortable clothing
• Warmer weather

These aren't what I would have have originally envisioned as values. But these things are important to me. So is a balanced checkbook, earthtones, and a clean floor.

Preferences are values. Your tastes and pet peeves are values. Think about all the things that make you unique, like "I don't like my foods to touch each other." That's a value.

As you go through your day, start taking mental snapshots of things that you prefer, things you enjoy, select, and seek out. These are important to you or you wouldn't give them any thought.

Now, pay attention to how you shape your life around the things you value. When given the option of "where do you want to eat this evening?" you choose one location over another. When you shop, you select one brand or color over another. When you get a snotty answer from the child, you request a kinder tone instead. It matters to you.

Check in and see if you are making room for what's important to you. Are you giving your preferences a voice? If you are feeling stifled or diminished, perhaps a change is in order.

You are important. Your values are an important part of making you, uniquely you. Let all your values shine!


(c) 2010 Sheri Smith Bertolini