GREG LARAIA, ATC.
This blog is something you can do when you have some time to yourself and need a little pick me up or reset.
What are your values and how do they represent you? This is a question that I think is important, especially in the state of our world today. I want you to explore a little bit about yourself and what makes you who you are.
To kick this off, start thinking of things that you are proud of using a word or short sentence. It can be anything–moving into a new apartment, buying a car, getting a new job, making a big life change, or even taking a vacation. Don’t rush this process. Actually, sit for a bit and think, “What am I proud of in my life”? Write down as many things as you want, but make sure you have at least three to five to work with.
For each item on your list, jot down a short description of why you are proud. This should be no more than one to two sentences. Keep it short and hassle-free.
Next, make a list of things that have challenged you, again using one word or a short sentence. This is going to be tougher, but take the time to think back through your life. Examples include being stuck at a dead-end job, maybe you hold yourself to a standard that causes anxiety and limits you, or maybe there was something deeper in your life that tossed you off track. Write it down. For each of your challenges, add a sentence or two to describe why or how that stood in your way.
Now let’s put both lists together. The goal is to create a sentence that describes who you are: something that you can relate to, that has made you the person you are today.
For me, I am proud of getting hired at Custom Performance. The challenge was where my life was before Custom; I was not working or living up to my potential. So to put them together I would say something like, “I am proud of myself for walking into Custom Performance to ask for a job when I was at a dead-end in my life, creating the opportunity to start a new chapter.”
Once you have your connecting sentence, you can identify your values! It took courage to get me to do something I had not done before, and so from that, I have learned that I value being courageous.
Take this opportunity to find your values. This is what makes you who you are! Use this as a tool to move forward in your life and explore where you want to go, what you want to do, and who you want to become.