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This is the second in a seven-part series on Living Your Values. Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore different aspects of how your values shape your life and leadership.
The Shifting Landscape of Values: Embracing Change for Growth
Last week, we discussed values, which are the fundamental principles and beliefs that guide our actions, decisions, and interactions. They shape who we are, how we navigate the world, and indicate when we are filled with joy or beaten down by stress and anxiety.
But here’s the thing: values are not fixed. As humans and societies do, our values evolve as we grow and experience life, and when new information is introduced, that provides more clarity or guidance.
Today, I would like to explore with you the dynamic nature of values, the elements that influence their transformation, and how understanding your evolution can lead to personal and professional growth.
The Nature of Values
Values are deeply rooted. They are in our upbringing, culture, and personal experiences. They are guided by our families, friends, religious or spiritual paths, or our expectations or perceptions of ourselves.
Values act as a compass, helping to differentiate between right and wrong (or good and bad). They guide us toward meaningful lives where we feel fulfilled. The most common values are honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility, ethics, humility, gratitude, integrity, empathy, and courage, but there are hundreds of values that fall into many different value categories, such as personal, cultural, moral, family, social, and our workplace.
The key to understanding your own is to know what and why you value something, someone, or someplace. Once you’ve begun to narrow down your core values, you can see their impact on your actions, ideas, beliefs, relationships, goals, and experiences.
Pexels | Tobias Bjørkli
Why Do Values Change?
Life Experiences
As we move through life, we encounter different situations and challenges that can shift our perspectives. If you experience a great loss—a job, a relationship, a financial hit, or the death of a loved one— it may deepen your value for relationships and compassion.
Education and Knowledge
Exposure to new ideas and information can reshape your values. Education (formal or not) broadens one’s understanding of the world, leading to more informed and sometimes altered beliefs.
Personal Growth
As we mature, our values should be reassessed to ensure our beliefs and expectations are still in alignment. Think about this: What was important to you in your twenties might not hold the same level of importance in your forties, especially if you are a parent or caretaker. Personal growth and self-reflection are key drivers of this evolution.
Social and Cultural Influences
Cultural shifts and societal norms play a significant role in shaping our values, and the growing awareness and acceptance of equity, diversity, and inclusion have led many people to adopt values of equality and social justice or to rediscover the values of the culture they grew up in or are a part of.
Relationships
Our interactions with others can profoundly influence our values. Close relationships, mentorships, and even conflicts can challenge and refine our beliefs. We need to be aware of the impact of our relationships and how they shape what we value and hold in high regard.
The Transformation of Values
Career vs. Work-Life Balance
Early in adulthood, my (and my peers’) top priorities were career success and financial stability. However, as people age and start families, go back to school, or struggle with illness, the value of work-life balance becomes more prominent.
While work is necessary and important, it is our lives outside of workplace office hours that hold the greater importance to life and being human. Unfortunately, many people discover this when they are facing death or illness.
Independence vs. Community
When young, people might prioritize independence and self-reliance as high-level values, as many of us do, but with time, the value of community and interconnectedness can take precedence as the importance of support systems is recognized and yearned for.
Materialism vs. Minimalism
For many, the early stages of life might focus on acquiring material possessions such as owning the biggest house, driving the hottest car, and wearing the trendiest designer labels, but over time, many people find greater value in minimalism and experiences rather than things. This is not to say we need to get rid of all our stuff but to be conscious of the things we bring into our orbit to ensure they enhance our life and don’t drain it with added responsibilities that take away from our pure enjoyment and other opportunities.
How to Embracing the Evolution of Our Values
Self-Reflection
When you regularly reflect on your values, it can help you understand how they have changed and why they have changed. Journaling, meditation, creating art or music, and conversations with trusted friends and family can facilitate this process.
Adaptability
Being open to change and willing to adapt your values can lead to personal growth. To do this, you’ll need to embrace the fluid nature of values and allow yourself to evolve.
Alignment with Actions
When you are aligned, you experience a sense of clarity, purpose, and harmony. These allow you to move forward with confidence and authenticity in your decisions and actions. Ensuring that your actions align with your current values brings a sense of integrity and authenticity to your life.
Continuous Learning
Be curious! Use your curiosity to be open to new experiences and perspectives. When you are curious, you inevitably discover new things, leading you to continuous learning, which can help you refine and expand your values.
The evolution of values is a natural and essential part of human growth. As we navigate life’s journey, our experiences, knowledge, and relationships continuously shape and redefine what we hold dear and why it’s important to us. Embracing this process allows us to lead lives that are true to our developing selves, cultivating authenticity, fulfillment, and meaningful connections with others.
When we understand and embrace the psychology of values, we can more easily adapt to our values’ changing landscape, leading to a richer, more purposeful life.
Are you ready to embrace the evolution of your values and unlock deeper fulfillment in your life and career? Reflecting on how your beliefs have shifted over time is the key to personal and professional growth. Join us in this journey of self-discovery and transformation.
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Ready to Embrace the Evolution of Your Personal Values?
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In next week’s article, we’ll delve into how to your values impact decision-making.
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