What defines who you are?
For me, it’s always been my relational and/or career status. Either I’m a wife, mother, friend, Christian, Life Coach, writer or speaker. For as long as I can remember, I’ve never felt comfortable sitting with just being me, Linda. I’ve always felt like I needed something or someone to define me.
Lately my soul has been stirring three simple words…authenticity, truth, and realness.
A few weeks ago I was taking a walk through the woods with a very special friend. It was a beautiful day so we decided to stop and sit in the middle of the trail and continue our conversation. The next thing I knew we were literally laying on our backs just staring up at the sky laughing and chatting. In that moment I couldn’t help myself but take a quick picture, it was a little glimpse of heaven. (photo below)
Lying there, sharing my soul while laughing and crying, I felt authentic; truth and realness wash over me. I thought to myself, this is me, no pretense, no performance, simply me.
This might sound a little crazy, but over the past few months I’ve been in conflict with myself and couldn’t figure out why. And then as I was working through some of my coaching material it hit me right between the eyes. I’ve not been living out of my core values.
Everyone has unique values that are highly important to him or her. For me, my #1 value is authenticity. And if I live any other way, I end up lacking peace and joy in my life. Because it was so easy for me to get out of balance with my life values, I want to encourage you today to take a moment and write an inventory of what you value most. Ask yourself if you’ve been living out of your values and if not what will you do to get back on track.
I invite you to share with me in the comments your top 3 life values. I would love to hear from you!
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I really had to stop and think about my top 3 life values. How interesting that I actually had to stop and think about them. Hmmm…. My top 3 life values are honesty, compassion for others and humility. I’m not saying that I am good at those values, just that they are the top 3 that I strive to achieve. 🙂 Thanks for making me think about this today, Linda. I truly enjoy your posts and look forward to reading your thoughts. Have a blessed day, friend. 🙂 Hugs to you! Hope to meet you in person someday.
Linda thanks for sharing this post . It has made me stop and think what has me out of sorts and then realized I try to please people. I encourage them but never stop and think what is throwing me off balance. I think my top 3 values is compassion for others, being real and vulnerable no masks allowed,and honesty. The hardest is being me and seeing how God can and is using me to touch others for Him. God bless your day .
Marilyn (OBS Group Leader)
My three core values are honesty, vulnerability, and humor. So glad to see you are sharing your beautiful self with a community of seekers. Sending love to you.
Thankyou for encouraging me to reflect on three life values I hold as important. Firstly I hold making time for family as a core value. Linked with that is making time to listen, to family and to others, to help them to feel valued. Thirdly to live my life demonstrating love towards others, whatever that might cost me.
Sandra b. Christine Ann, thank you for sharing your three life values. I also put my family up there for life values. I feel that is one of my purposes that God has given me, to be there for/ with (Large) family, and others, to listen to them is very, very important. Helping them feel valued is so important. The fourteen grandchildren we have is so important for them now days. And demonstrating the LOVE of GOD!!
Linda, I saw myself in your post today. The three attributes I most highly value are genuine love and compassion, service to others, and honesty. I use the word genuine because to me it exemplifies truth. Service to others because it is to God’s glory and filled with His truth. And honesty as it is the one attribute that we must be to ourselves in order to live in His truth. Lots to think about in my quiet time tonight! Linda, you are definitely real and authentic! It is felt through the truth you share in your posts! God bless!
I want to get to feeling like my old self so I can get back to volunteering and helping others. It’s been 3 years now since I withdrew from everything.
2. I need to answer the phone when people call and not have anxiety when it rings.
3. Connect with my kids and their families.
What I want for my top 3 core values may not be where I am now, but it’s where I want to be
A deeper relationship with God: to do everything in His name. But I don’t always know what that means, especially with work related issues.
To maintain the loving and healthy relationship with my entire family
To be a person who is able help others in their time of emotional and physical need. To have the words (or presence) people need when they are in going through difficult times.