Values are the Heart of the Matter
© 2002 By David Batchelor
Your values are what makes you tick. Your values are the seat and source of
your wants and desires. Yet most people don't really think about their values
- or the values of others - even when they're considering what it takes to
be successful.
Our values are the wellspring from which comes all that we want
in life, everything we seek and search for. Our values are the
source of who we think we are.
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Let me give you an example of a value.
One of the most powerful values many, many people share
in our world today is belonging. People want to belong, to
be part of what's going on and what's happening.
I'm in the business of Network Marketing Sales, and although
most people seem to get into this business for the money,
or for the time freedom a home-based, self-employed business
like mine offers, I've found that the majority of men and
women entering this industry do so to belong to something
important and fun.
The social aspect of Network Marketing is very important
to people - yet most Networkers don't seem to appreciate
it consciously.
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Values are so intrinsic to who we are that it's not really a matter
of values being something we choose to have. It's almost as if
we are revealing that they are the values that have us.
Values are that compelling.
Values motivate us. And when we find our values not being respected
by certain people or institutions, we "disappear" them
(those people and institutions, that is).
What do you suppose is at the heart of the high divorce rate
in the West? What do you suppose would happen to the institution
of marriage if all the he's and she's respected and empowered each
other's values? Yet how many husbands and wives really, truly know
with clarity what each other's values are?
Values are the bottom line.
So, what are your values? What qualities do you most admire and
most want to experience and express in your life?
All of our values matter, even the most seemingly superficial
of them. However, the real power lies in those values I call "Essential."
Essential values are ones which have nothing else inside them - like prime
numbers, which can't be divided any further. You could call them "Source" values.
They are really "the heart of the matter."
Let's look at money as an example.
Suppose you decide that "having money" is a value for
you. Fine. Now, ask yourself this: "When I have money, what
will it bring me?" If you can answer that question with something
other than money, then money itself is not an essential value.
Look deeper.
You might say money will bring you a house, a new car, travel,
education for your kids, and whatever else. Again, fine. Now, when
you have any one of those, what will that bring you?
I'm asking you to be a bit serious and even rigorous about doing
this questioning. Your answers will probably surprise you - and
please you, too.
For instance, if you say you want money to have a new house,
and then you ask, "If I could have that new house, what would
that bring me?" you might answer, "Security for my family." Or
perhaps, "Peace of mind," or "Prestige." Now
you're getting down to essential stuff, the stuff dreams and success
are made of. And the fascinating thing is that money itself is
rarely - I'm tempted to say never - a truly Essential Value.
Nobody really wants the Midas touch - but many of us do want
Freedom, Adventure, Fun, Recognition, Appreciation, Belonging,
Independence, Creativity, and so forth.
Make a list now of the top five values you have in your life,
and keep asking yourself clarifying questions until you have no
more answers and have gotten down to the essence of each of those
values.
• Value 1
• Value 2
• Value 3
• Value 4
• Value 5
Sometimes - in fact, more often than not - you can't get to these
values all by yourself. You may want to do this process with someone
else and have him or her ask you questions to bring out the essence
of your values.
Plato wrote, "The truth is revealed in dialogue." He
was so right.
David Batchelor has written numerous articles focusing on Tips,
Strategies, Tools and how-to's for creating
the Ultimate Home Based Business. To Subscribe to his e-zine
please go to:
http://www.netmarkpro.com/djb
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