January 31: Living into your Values
A key part of understanding calling is to be true to yourself. That means being true to your values. Illuman Teaching
Gregg’s Reflection
In the mid-1990s, I took a hard look at my life and named the values that mattered most to me in that season. I was 45, our kids were off at college, and I was preparing to leave the family business to follow a calling I had only glimpsed over the years.
I made a long list of values and wrote two or three concrete action steps for each. At that time, there was little overlap between my stated values and how I was actually living.
When I reviewed them all, I realized they could be summed up in one aspiration: to be a wise leader. That goal became a kind of North Star for the next two decades, shaping my decisions and pulling me toward greater alignment between my inner convictions and my outward life.
Over time, I’ve learned that living into our values is an ongoing process. Values shift somewhat with each new season of life, but when they are explicit — when we’ve named them and committed to them — they become a compass, guiding us toward a life of integrity and deeper purpose.
Contemplate the choices presented here. Based on how you spend your time and money, which of these is at the center of the target, and how does that align with what you think you value.
What are the values that will ground and deepen your spiritual journey, and how will you make those values a priority? Here is a great tool for clarifying values:
Scripture
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9–10
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Ancient Quotes
All paths lead to God. For God is on all paths evenly for the person with transformed knowledge. God is delighted to watch your soul enlarge.
Meister Eckhart, in Matthew Fox, Christian Mystics, p. 128
Modern Quotes
A key part of understanding calling is to be true to yourself. That means being true to your values. We all operate with a set of values. Many are cultural in nature. The only question is: are they implicit or explicit.
Journaling Prompts
- What are your top three core values?
- How well do your daily choices reflect them?
- What is one concrete step you could take to better align your life with your values?
- If you listed your values today, how would they differ from ten years ago?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 5 Reflection: Consciousness/Awareness