Imagine that the life you live is a house made up of different rooms and each of these rooms represents one of your values…
Some rooms you visit more than others, some rooms you show to certain people, and others you keep closed away just for yourself… each serves a different purpose, but together they make the house what it is.
Still with me?
Okay, cool.
Now to get to the house, you can take any number of roads, highways, alleys, sidewalks, etc.
And depending on the day, you may even switch up the routes to account for any distractions, pivots, and adjustments needed…
The options are limitless, but each time you want to return, all you need to do is figure out which path is the best way to get back.
This, my friend, is how you remain in alignment with your values.
Because like the rooms that fill this house, your values show up in different ways—some are always front and center, while others are only seen based on specific situations and contexts…
And just like the different roads, highways, alleys, and sidewalks that can take you away from or back to your house, there are plenty of paths you can take to walk away from and return to your values:
your day-to-day tasks, habits, and behaviors
the relationships you create and maintain
your boundaries and non- negotiables
the goals and accomplishments you work towards
your decisions and actions
... etc.
And just as you can redecorate, renovate, reroute, and rebuild your house as many times as you want, you can also update and adjust your values and the paths you take each and every day.
This is where creating worthwhile goals, habits, and to-do lists comes in.
Because as you develop these goals, implementing these habits, and add and cross things off of this to-do list, one of the most illuminating questions you can ask yourself is this:
Does this person, place, or thing lead me home?
And the answer to that question will make all the difference.
It’s how you ensure you’re on the right path.
It’s how you create, protect, and live a life you love.
Because how many times have you thought you wanted something, only to realize—when given the opportunity—that you actually don't want it after all?
How many times have you beaten yourself up over the “coulda,” “shoulda,” “woulda”s that hindsight provides?
How many times have you looked around and had no idea how you ended up where you are?
If you have, please know that one of the most powerful things you can do is to give yourself grace and look at yourself with compassionate curiosity...
To relieve yourself of the burden of outdated commitments, habits, and beliefs…
To shed any ties you have to goals and aspirations that no longer serve you…
To believe, if only for a minute, that letting go is not the same as giving up…
To give yourself permission to change your mind.
Because you'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't…) by how many people set goals and chase after things that don't hold any real meaning to them.
You'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't...) by how people are unable to look at themselves in the mirror because they've gotten so far off track that they don't know how to return. And it's usually because of:
fear
lack of imagination
the doubt-filled question of "Who am I to...?"
overwhelm
ego
indecision
pride
the hesitation-filled "I'm not ready to..."
"all-or-nothing" thinking
addiction to the struggle
misplaced loyalties
the self-centered thinking of "What will they think?"
…etc.
And what do all of these have in common?
A lack of clarity.
Not being clear about the overall vision for your life.
Not being clear about the values that vision reflects.
Not being clear about all the paths you can take to get to the vision.
So consider this an invitation to do something different. Consider this an invitation to get back on track. Consider this an invitation to keep that magical question top of mind:
Does this person, place, or thing lead me home?
And then, based on your answer, decide to act accordingly.
If you need support identifying your values and the vision you have for your life, let's talk. Book a free consultation to discuss how my 1:1 programs can help you review your path and get back on the track that leads you home.