subject: Four Reasons Why You Should Establish Good Values [print this page] You must establish values because they can affect the different aspects of your life, become your driving force and guide, influence how other people perceive you, and help make you into a conscious and purposeful being.
Values are things that are in one's mind and not tangible. Our parents and other important people in our lives help determine the value system we adopt. Our values may be the results of past experiences, education and knowledge or conceived from a religious conviction. Even though values are not physical objects, they can easily be seen and felt; they manifest in lots of other ways. Our individual values are shown by our behaviors, the things we prioritize, the way we do our daily life activities, the choices we make and the way we react to and solve problems that we have. The reasons for developing a strong value system are given below:
Every aspect of life is affected by one's unique set of personal values
Values can have a big effect on the various parts of your life. The basis upon which you make decisions, whether very silly or very important, depends on the values you possess. When your decisions are consistent with your value system, you feel satisfied and content. If, however, you do something that is contrary to your own personal belief system, you become anxious, restless and uneasy.
Values become our directional compass in life and the force that drives us
A person's values reveal what is important. Personal values become an essential driving force in a person's life and may serve as a road map when performing his daily activities. An example of this is how a man who cares about his family and the responsibilities he has to his relatives will make choices that are beneficial to his home and to himself. His familial concern greatly influences his life choices. It is also the same in the case of organizations. The decisions of the management and employees as well as their attitude towards work must be based on the company's value system.
Your values have a role in the ways others see you
The ways in which one acts and interacts, and goes about making decisions, is a reflection of one's core values. Your values shape how others see and think of you. Your values and how you live them will be a great influence on your friends, family, neighbors and even coworkers.
Without values, you can't be a conscious and purposeful human being
We would be like robots if we had no values, because we would be without feeling or sensitivity to anything besides our own needs. Without purpose and meaning in our lives, we will not value truthfulness. Your values define you as a human being and give color and meaning to your life. You are considered animate because of them. A sense of purpose, as well as responsibility and effective inter-personal relationships are all things that are gained from one's values.
Although values are intangible, they are actually a very important part of a person's life. This is the reason why there are many people who are willing to sacrifice or devote their lives to the values that they hold dear.
