Tuesday 10 January 2012

Life challenge - week 2 - values

For week 2 of the life challange we have been asked to define your personal values. This one scares me. I feel like I have no real values.
What do I stand for?  I don't know.....and then how can anyone else. I feel like I'm muddling through life with no real purpose..

So I cheated a bit...I found a website that listed out 374 values and printed it off!  Went through and highlighted the ones that spoke to me and crossed off ones that didn't (and had a lot just sitting there not highlighted and not crossed off!).  I got my list to 33.  Still too many!  I went through the list again and managed to cut it to 16.   Appreciation, contribution, curiosity, credibility, education, family, honesty, organisation, friendliness, happiness, learning, motivation, perseverance, respect, security/stability, willingness.

Okay getting there!!

Now to cut it to 5.....this was tricky.....there were 3 that I just knew were going to be there...family, security/stability and organisation. I really value security and stability (much to Nigel's dismay - he would love me to take a risk- but nope it isn't me). So whilst I would love to drop this one for something 'sexier', it just has to stay in my top 5.  So I only have 2 spots left and 13 values to choose from.

There was another one I really wanted but I had trouble labelling it. It's the reason I've included willingness in my 16 values, but it isn't quite the right word. It is important to me that we give things a go. It doesn't matter to me if you can't do something, as long as you at least try. I'm thinking in particular of Hunter and his school work. He has just started and is finding some of it so hard - I can't do it he says (in particular to reading new words). My response is, I don't expect you to be able to do it (that doesn't mean I don't think you can do it!), I expect you to try.  In the end I've settled on the phrase 'give it a go', for this one (listed as try in my word cloud above).

Now to the last spot.  I think this was the hardest of all....I wanted to put at least 4, respect, honesty, appreciation and happiness. I've gone with happiness, because at the end of the day, I just want to be happy! I'm not 100% happy with it (haha love it), but given values don't have to be permanent, I'm going with it!

And to rank them:
Family- my family really are my reason for living. It's important to me that we look out for our family, and stand up for them. My family is what pulls me out of a funk, just listening to a child giggle or seeing them play together is enough to bring a smile to my face.
Security - security is important to me, and therefore my job, which provides security, is important to me. I don't have huge ambitions, I just want to be able to pay the bills comfortably.  I like to know what to expect, hence my need for stability/routine.
Organisation - I like to be organised. It's important to me to know things are organised. This fits in with my need for routine/stability, I'm not a spur of the moment person, but plan, plan, plan.
Give it a go - this one I mentioned above. It's important that everyone in my family gives things a go, at least try's. I don't mind if you don't succeed, as long as you try your best!
Happiness - at the end of the day I just want myself and my family to be happy. For me this includes some "me" time, either scrapbooking, reading or getting a massaage, but it also includes spending time with friends and family.

14 comments:

  1. i really love your 'give it a go' value... so much that i sat here for a good time and tried to think of the word to capture it and couldn't... i agree its not quite willingness, but something... yes, something!

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    1. I love that you tried to think of a word for me...if you come up with one I would be greatful!

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  2. I really like your list Bec. I agree that security is important - I know that I am not a risk-taker but perhaps I should put myself out there and take some more chances. That would truly challenge me to "give it a go!" Good luck with the rest of the challenge.

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    1. I know, I would love to take risks - it's just not in me.

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  3. Well done Bec, and I love that your need for organisation shows through from the second you printed off 374 values to critic LOL. Just like Lyndaal I am trying to think of the "giving it a go" word. I think we should create one and send it in to Oxfords Dictionary. It encompasses willingness and adventure, perseverance and curiosity all at once. Lets called it Hunterism.
    xx Looking forward to reading your Mission Statement

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    1. Oh yes I love the word Hunterism! Yep I've a need for organisation....no doubt about that!

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  4. Great list. I love that because you couldn`t find the word for the value you were looking for that you made one up to suit you and your family.

    It is not really a value but the word "try" and "attempt" comes to mind when thinking about give it a go but it is not quite right either.

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    1. Thanks Lulu. I put try in my word cloud -it's just a hard concept to get 1 word for.

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  5. I love your list.
    I also love the home challenge you are doing - sounds like another one for me! :)

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    1. Yes the home challenge is great - I'm trying to have a more organised life this year.

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  6. Hi Bec just stumbled across your blog through the 52 week SYL challenge and I am looking forward to following you this year :) I had a chuckle that you printed off a big list to get you started - it was hard to think about where we are and what we stand for!!! Love your list :)

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    1. Thanks Paula - this was hard. I'm expecting the mission statement to be even harder, hence I haven't begun it yet!

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  7. Love your post and list - your give it a go screams adventure as a value to me (which is important to me and was one of hubby's top 5) - to me it encompasses more than our love of travel but the open minded, willingness to be open to life and experiences without prejudging and saying "i can't do THAT, or i won't like THAT" if you have not done so before.

    Deb @ home life simplified

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  8. I love the "Give it a go" attitude. You always feel better when you have a go. You may not always succeed but you will know that you have tried. Sometimes just trying makes you feel happy. I always tell my little students to "Have a go". It used to make my day when you would hear them telling ones of their peers to have a go if they were finding that something was tough.

    Jo

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