Rediscover your values and purpose

It is not uncommon for people to start the New Year feeling a bit lost and dissatisfied with life.

January marks a time for renewal and readjustment – when expectations are high to put our lives into perspective and set goals – and for many of us this can be a daunting prospect.

If you are missing a sense of purpose and meaning, we recommend the following tips to help you clarify and seek out your values which will open up opportunities for fulfillment.

Pinpoint your values

How would you define your values? If you are not sure what your values are, these are the things you believe to be the most important in the way you work and live – i.e. the way you think and act.

They should determine your priorities and are ultimately the measures you use to determine if your life is unfolding the way you want it to.

An important part of this process is identifying what is most important to you – not the expectations placed on you by the media, your friends or family – just your authentic values.

Here are a few questions that might help:

• What motivates you to get up in the morning?
• What keeps you up at night?
• When are you at your happiest?
• What are you doing when you’re at your best?

Create opportunities to live by your values

Having identified what is important to you, it is now time to start incorporating your values into your life. Your current habits and routine may not be supporting what is meaningful to you, so start figuring out ways to change this so you are in alignment with your values.

Make a list of all the possible ways you can create opportunities to live by your values – what activities, places, career, and events align with them?

Prioritise your values

Living a life that is in harmony with your values will require discipline and hard work. Changing fixed habits and routine can take time, so it is important to stay focused and minimise the things in your life that could get in the way.

Remember, you have to make the choice to shift your time and energy to the aspects of your life that really matter. Are you ready to do that?