Several years ago, a group of friends and I hiked Havasupi Falls in Arizona. The hike in is roughly 9 miles of partial switchback trail and silt which is a soft sand.
It feels treacherous at times. The landscape was majestic with water falls and orange rocks reflecting the sunlight. When I reflect back on that trip, the part that warms my heart the most is waking up before sunrise, seeing stars everywhere we looked, and sitting with my dearest friends drinking coffee. It was simple, it was comfortable, it came about because we were willing to be on the journey, even if it was hard. And we did it together.
You can see from this story, that what I value shows up with my reflection on what was most meaningful for me. Values are things we don’t often talk about, other than to say “family values” or he/she has “good values.” Let’s explore what values are important to you.
Take a moment and think about a peak experience or a valley experience in your life. (You may write this out or say it to yourself out loud)
- What stands out for you about that experience?
- Who were you with?
- What did you learn from it?
- What was your favorite moment?
- What really matters for you about that time?
- What values are beginning to emerge?
In my story, what values emerged were simplicity, the journey, connection or togetherness, and being willing to do hard things.
Here are some other examples of values:
- Loyalty
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Family
- Authenticity
- Courage
- Hope
- Faith
- Honesty
- Kindness
Some final questions to journal about:
- How do you want to show up in your life?
- What matters most to you? And do your behaviors reflect that?
- How would your life look different if you led with these values?
