Being Guided By Your Values
By Kim Omoruyi, Registered Psychotherapist
Entering a new year often brings with it an urge to start something new, or engage in a practice or activity that will help us feel healthy, happy, or just more like ourselves. But with so many choices out there, how do you decide what to engage in? Answer: Let your values guide you.
How to do that? Consider a situation or activity that you participated in and felt content, at peace, or really felt like yourself. It could have been a large event (a trip, or celebration), or it could have been something small (cooking a nice meal, walking with a friend). Try and pinpoint what it was about that activity that meant so much to you. Was it the companionship? The creativity? The physical component? By drilling down to isolate what it was about the situation that really struck a chord for you, you will shed a light on what you value. Making decisions in accordance with your values can lead you to a fulfilling life.
You may also consider if there is a particular domain in your life that you’d like to focus on. Examples of domains are health/wellness, work/education, social relationships, and leisure. This is not an exhaustive list, as there may be other domains you identify for yourself.
Once you spend a bit of time honing in on the area of your life you want to focus on, then identifying what your values are in that area, you will be better equipped to make decisions that will help you feel fulfilled.
For more information on the role values can play in your life, check out the work of author, therapist, and trainer Russ Harris by whom the above suggestions were inspired. He practices Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and wrote The Happiness Trap. You can find more information on this site here.
If you find you could use a little help getting started (perhaps you’re feeling stuck due to having been in a defined role for a long time, or are going through a transition and cannot see a way forward), stay tuned for an upcoming series of sessions we will be holding at Oma!
If you are looking for extra support, our Psychotherapy team is available to help you navigate challenging times all throughout the year. If you would like to learn more about Kim and Janine and the services they offer, visit the Psychotherapy section here.