| Midlife brings about a variety of changes and challenges that can feel overwhelming at times. How can we navigate and steer through these changes? By identifying our core values. When I ask people if they have gone through the exercise of naming their values, the answer is often no. I encourage you to think about your values as a compass that points you to true north – or perhaps a secret decoder ring that allows you to decipher what is truly important. Your values express what you consider to be of the utmost importance in your life. And since they change over time, it’s a good idea to revisit your list every few years. I refer to my values so often that I have written them on my whiteboard next to my desk (see photo below). Using your core values as a guide during midlife offers several significant benefits: • Clarity and Direction: Understanding your core values helps clarify what is truly important to you, guiding your decisions and actions. This clarity provides direction, allowing you to make choices in alignment with what you value most. • Increased Life Satisfaction: When your life choices are aligned with your core values, you live in a way that is true to your inner self. This results in a sense of greater fulfillment and satisfaction. • Stress Reduction: Midlife can be a stressful period, often marked by significant life transitions such as career changes, health issues, or shifts in family dynamics. Being grounded in your core values can help mitigate stress by providing a stable foundation upon which to base your responses to these changes. Brené Brown offers an excellent framework to identify your values on her website. If you’d like some support around identifying your own personal list of values, feel free to reach out and we can schedule a time to chat. |
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