subject: What's Your Value System Like? (Part 1) [print this page] What's Your Value System Like? (Part 1) What's Your Value System Like? (Part 1)
Life, as we know it, is all about making choices. In this process of making decisions, whether you make the right or wrong choice, will depend, to a large extent, upon a written or un-written set of rules that govern your individual life.
As a way of definition, values have to do with the worth that is attached to a thing, and if your life will have any value, or influence others, it will depend largely on your individual value system
Societal Value
Every society has a set of values by which it operates, and by this, every society defines itself. Sad to say, the western world may have consistently been on the downward slide, especially with regards to its moral values. It so seems that, the more the society has climbed the ladder of technological advancement, the faster has been it rate of decline. The influence of the electronic and print media, especially the television and the internet has led to an explosion in teenage school drop out rates, teen pregnancies, drug abuse, rape, violent crime, and an overall reduction in standards of education.
So, how do you go about creating your own set of values, which are guaranteed to keep you afloat in the midst of the decline? You will need to employ sure and tested reference points, positive value building steps which will ensure you end up with personal value systems that will produce for you.
These steps include, but are not limited to:
The scriptures
Taking counsel from older folks
Books and related literature
Common sense
Scriptures
For a book that that has lasted over 2000 years, and still continues to be printed till date, there are definitely many positive values that can be gleaned from the study of this book. While it is obvious among the young and growing members of the present generation, that this book is not the most popular or fascinating to read from, the bible contains an awesome number of value systems, instructions and directions and helps, that cover virtually every facet of human endeavour. It is an awesome library of events, places, lifestyles, situations and circumstances, that will give you an opinion on just about every thing that you can encounter as a human being residing on planet earth. (Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.)
The way to benefit from this vast store is to use the topical indices to search for any particular topic of interest that you may want to learn about. Translations have also been made that will enable you read the scriptures in present day language
Talking to Older Folks
Getting into the habit of talking to older folks, with the intent of gaining from their positive (and negative experiences), is one sure way of building a personal, positive, working set of values. Older folks have a habit of been able to throw more light into situation or circumstances in which younger people find them selves, basically because "I've been there before" and where you have a lot of teachers, you feel safer (Proverbs 15:22 - Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.).
When you have the benefit of talking to responsible adults, who are willing to share their youthful experiences with you, it becomes possible for you to avoid the normal pitfalls most young people are prone to falling into today (Proverbs 8:33 - Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.).
In a sense, you can get to living the best of both worlds. How ever, be cautious while searching for older folks you want to take counsel from. Apart from your own folks, use the opportunity to talk with every day people you tend to relate with: your grocery store keeper, barber, library attendant or Sunday school teacher, or the salon owner by the corner
