What Matters Most to You?
A few weeks ago I enrolled in an amazing blogging E-course created by one of my all time favourite female entrepreneurs and bloggers. One of the worksheets in the ‘Branding.PR.Relationships’ module asks us to identify what our top 5 Brand Values are and I wanted to share mine with you.
What matters most to me:
Authenticity ~ Connection ~ Engagement ~ Love ~ Sisterhood/Spirit
When I wrote these down and looked at the words on the page, I realised these aren’t just my brand values, they are my personal values too. They are what matters most to me.
It then made me realise why lately when I’ve attended some (not all) social gatherings, networking events or catch-ups, I often leave feeling a little deflated rather than fulfilled, inspired, nourished.
It’s because these events weren’t aligned with my core values. They didn’t feel authentic to me; nor was there meaningful connection or engagement, and I certainly didn’t feel a sense sisterhood or spirit involved.
Rather it felt like there was an agenda; they felt like fake, forced, and surface-level conversations. These kinds of interactions do not interest me and I have no qualms in admitting that or saying no to an invitation if I know it is not aligned with my values.
Why do we catch up with people if not to ‘catch up’ on the happenings of each other’s lives and build beautiful, meaningful connections with others, whilst showing up as our authentic selves?
This doesn’t mean every conversation or catch-up has to be war and peace, but substance? Yes, there has to be substance. There has to be something that makes me feel connected, engaged, loved, a sense of sisterhood and authenticity, and vice versa.
Essentially, I want my interactions with people to feed me on an intellectual, emotional and spiritual level.
Perhaps this is why I don’t have bucket loads of friends or why I don’t still hang out with the same group of friends I had in high school all the time. I have changed a great deal; my lifestyle is so different, and I crave conversations where the topics are about more important things than who did what on some reality tv show, what the latest fad diet is or indulge in petty gossip.
I think some people are afraid to walk away from something or someone that is no longer aligned with their values, purely out of fear of what others may think or because they don’t want to rock the boat. But what happens is that they end up drowning (metaphorically speaking) instead of going full steam ahead in the direction of their true desires.
The friends I do have, and keep, are the ones I can be my true authentic self with and that is what matters most to me.
What matters most to you?
So if I may, let me ask you, what are your core values? What matters most to you? Take a moment to think about this and pick 5.
Here are a few words to kick start you:
Authentic// Creativity//Beauty// Information//Truth//Love//Knowledge//Clairty//Excellence//Fun//Impact// Helpfulness//Humour//Innovation//Artistry//Education//Community//Compassion//Intimacy//Ideas
Then ask yourself, “Are these values aligned with how I’m spending my time, and more importantly, whom I’m spending my time with?”
If the answer is no, there is no shame in walking away from a situation or person who is no longer aligned with these values, or lessening your contact with them.
Coincidence? I think not (Plus I don’t believe in coincidences).
Just as I was about to hit publish on this blog post, I saw an article pop up in my inbox titled ‘5 warning signs your friendships are unhealthy’ By Tony J Robinson
I’d like to leave you with this excerpt from the article in light of what I have discussed above:
“The people with whom you surround yourself have a strong influence on the life that you live. They impact the TV programs you watch, the places where you spend time, the books you read, or if you’re even reading at all. Collectively, those choices have a huge sway on the direction of your life.
But all too often, we don’t find time to take a good, hard look at the people around us and make sure they’re supporting us, and not holding us back.
By spending time with the right people, you can achieve those goals that really matter to you.”
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So again I ask, what are your core values? What matters most to you?
I’d love you to hear what matters most to you in the comments below, and as always please like and share this article if you feel called to do so.
