Character Building Tip Five: Are You Going the Direction You Choose?

New Vocabulary
Psychological
Conscious
Subconscious

Introduction
Every article about freeing yourself from negative emotions, specifically psychological problems like depression, anxiety, and addictions, always goes back to values. Equally aligned, each discussion about reaching your potential and being as successful as you can possibly be also relates to values.
Supposedly, if your actions match your conscious and subconscious values, then you are able to peacefully excel in all areas of your life. When your actions don't align with your values, then your head starts to hurt as you become weighed down by difficult decisions and feel indecisive about the right choice. So, in sum, figure out your values. Check them frequently. Make sure your actions are aligned with your values. Set goals for yourself in each area of your values, specifically the areas where you think you could improve.

Defining Values
There are numerous books, articles, videos, and assessments that will explain the meaning of values. Several of these have credible, researched sources, yet they still significantly vary in definitions and explaining how to figure yours out. That being said, I have meshed them together for an explanation that best suites myself and, hopefully works for you.

Think of Dr.Seuss's quote, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know, and YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go" . The directions you choose to go are you values: a continuous road that never ends. You can choose around ten core values, or ten different roads that you focus your life on. Any more and you might not be able to fulfill the needs of your core ten values, and any less and you might be missing some meaning.

This video can help explain values, too:



And Here is Why You Should Trust This Value Assessment
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a famous theory that explains the human's most basic needs in the form of a pyramid, a visual representation satisfying the bottom need first as the biggest section representing the most significant need, working its way to the top as each of the five needs are fulfilled.

I'm including these video explanations because I know you'd rather watch a video than start the activity or have to do work. They are cool, though so pay attention!

Movie Example One: Ratatouille
Movie Example Two: Up

While Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs was originally based off a minimal sample group for research, the theory has sustained popularity and has proven true with more recent research studies. Also, the other value assessments aren't based off of anything soo, they are all runner up in my ranking.

The Barrett Value Centre was stumbled upon as I started digging deeper into a reliable values based assessment. Their Personal Value Assessment  is created by Richard Barrett and is created using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Basically, you want to take the assessment and see how your values are divided amongst the seven value areas of need. Ideally, in order to feel complete and reach your potential, your goal would be to choose proactive values that combined cover each of the areas.  The powerpoint below explains my interpretation of the assessment as well as my personal results.



To Be Fair, Here Are Other Value Assessments I've Tried
Just like there are so many definitions, the numerous assessments can be confusing. If you are like me, you figure out how to alter the results to say what you want, and trick yourself to hide your areas of growth. Here are the list of other value assessments I've tried so far:

1. Smart About Money Values
2. What's Next Life Value Self-Assessment
3. Careers Test Values Assessment
4. Mind Tools Values Article

Now What? 
It's your turn to reread about values and figure out the directions you choose (for today at least)!
1. Take this survey.
2. Read about what your results mean. Think about what this means to you. If you are like me, you might want to rewrite what you are reading to make sure you understand. You can also take the survey multiple times.
3. Do you see any potentially negative values? Figure out why these are negative and what they can be replaced with to be positive.
4. Are there any areas of the seven that have no values? What areas?
5. Figure out the areas where you can add a value. Remember, you can have a total of (about) ten and you want at least one in each area. I give no judgement for 8-11 values; beyond that range I might tease you.
6. Smile and be proud of yourself. Write these down, make them into a poster, or a piece of artwork. Put them somewhere you look everyday.
7. Make SMART goals, or wait for the character building lesson where I force you to do this.

Conclusion
Dr. Seuss is awesome because his words are inspiring at every age of your life. Understand that anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues come from your actions not being congruent with your conscious and subconscious values. Think of values as the roads you choose to take, and always prioritize a value in each of Richard Barrett's Seven Level of Conscious Values.

The end.

Actually, who are we kidding, anytime you need to evaluate your values, you also should want to read (and reread) Oh, The Place You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. Enjoy!!!