So, you have identified your most important values.  Awesome! 

But now what? 

How do you use this information to move forward in your life mindfully and intentionally? 

Use your values to help you make decisions in your life.  You will still take other aspects into consideration, such as, if something is affordable or will promote your career, but you will also ask if it aligns with your values. 

Every decision is made within some type of constraint. Maybe it's how much knowledge you have. Maybe it's how much money you have. Maybe it's how many resources you have. Why not what values you have?  -- James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits”

When I decided to get certified as a coach, it was because I identified my values and realized that I enjoyed interacting with people, helping people feel better about themselves and their lives, and having control (autonomy) of my situation.  I think that my job as an emergency medicine physician has taken so many of those things away from me.  I had no control over my schedule; I couldn’t take the time to really get to know my patients and we were so busy; I couldn’t even get to know my colleagues.  By interacting with people one on one in a coaching setting, I am able to connect and help someone discover what really matters to them.  I love that.

Another decision I made that was aided by respecting my values was choosing my new car.  I have been wanting an electric vehicle for a long time.  Nearly six years ago, I decided to lease a car because I anticipated that in the next couple of years a good electric car would come out.  Tesla was building its following, but I had hoped that there would be more options.  When my lease was up, there were no more options, so I leased again.  My lease is almost up again, and the options are so close, but not yet available, and I do not want to drive a gas-powered vehicle anymore.  I evaluated all the options and matched them with my values and my husband’s, and we ordered a Tesla.  It is the one available electric car that is not out of our price range and has good enough battery range to get us where we need to go.

When faced with any decision, but especially the tough ones, it is essential to respect your core values.  If you make a decision without considering them, you may make a knee jerk decision that you end up regretting. So, while doing the work to discover your values and then respecting those values before making decisions takes time and energy, it will be less burdensome than making the wrong decision and dealing with the consequences later.  Plus, once you have done it a couple of times it will become a habit, making all of the upfront work worth it!

Honoring your values when making decisions will lead to a more fulfilling, harmonious life that is less stressful and time consuming.