Values are what
we cherish; virtues that are dear to our heart. They are important and enduring
beliefs and ideas shared by members of a culture about what is good or desirable
and what is not. We can say our values are the lenses through which we can view
ourselves and our world. As values develop, they are crystallised and prioritised
to form a value system. In essence, they form our own “personal truth” from
which self-esteem, fulfilment, and resilience develop. Whether we are
consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal
values. Values can range from the common place, such as the belief in hard work
and punctuality, to the more psychological, such as self-reliance, concern for
others, and harmony of purpose.
Personal Values
Personal values evolve from circumstances with the external
world and can change over time. Personal value of a person is the dignity of
that person. Person values are implicitly related to choice; they guide
decisions by allowing for an individual’s choice to be compared to his/her
values. Personal values may be derived from those of particular groups or
systems, such as culture, religion, and political party. However personal
values are not universal; family, nation and historical environment help
determine one’s personal values.
Values
Clarification
Values clarification is an act of identifying one’s
own values in the midst of other values that are seldom productive, so as to
live by own chosen values that become the basis for healthy and maximally
productive life. Values clarification helps one hold onto own values in the
face of fierce pressure without necessarily despising the values of other
persons. Values clarification helps us to be assertive, make positive decisions
and maintain positive self-esteem with fulfilled life.
Big Question
What are your own personal values? The target of this
piece is not to teach any specific values, but to make you aware of your own
personal values and of the way in which
you values compare to those of friends, adults, different groups in
society, and even other societies in other times.
Knowing what
your values are and then learning to live by them is one of the most powerful
ways to gain inner peace and decrease stress level. This does not only apply to
the bigger life decisions, but for our everyday decisions as well. For example,
if you are someone who values honesty
highly, you will definitely feel uncomfortable when you cheat in an
examination or take something that is not your own. When our actions are not in
line with our values, the natural emotional consequences is stress and inner
chaos.
Are you a young
boy or girl with values? More importantly, are you a boy or girl who is very
clear about his/her values?
