Values are defined as “a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.” A person’s values are guidepost along the road of life. When we get off track and don’t live by these deep-seated beliefs, we don’t think, feel, or act like our genuine selves. When we are not true to our core values, suffering will arise.
My business coach recently asked me to examine my values and determine which values I wanted to characterize how I ran my business. My first thought was, “sure, sure…of course I live out my values! Have you met me?”
But then I realized, maybe I wasn’t applying my values to the full extent. One value stuck out, and bit me in the ass.
Inclusivity
This is a value I have held since I was as knee high to a grasshopper, even before it become a societal buzz word. My Nana instilled this especially important value in me as a young child. We include EVERYONE, make ALL people feel like they belong, bring them into the fold, nurture, love, care for, make them feel a part of, take under our wing… a few more excellent clichés I can’t think of off the top of my head, but you get the picture.
Everyone is welcome, everyone! My home is open to all homeless critters, forlorn teenagers, and lonely friends. I do not judge based on race, religion, gender, age, sexuality, or any other category I missed.
I have previously focused my coaching services primarily for women but realized this was leaving out half of the world’s population, men. Why that is important is because men are more stigmatized and resistant to receiving help due to their socialization. I want to help anyone with a brain overcome their mental barriers keeping them from living life to its fullest.
So, if you have a brain, mental health coaching can help you! I don’t think that leaves anyone out, but if it does, please let me know, I will adapt.
Authenticity
Authenticity is defined as “real or genuine: not copied or false”. My personal definition of authenticity is You-Be-You, Unapologetically!
As I get older and wiser, I realize that unless we can be ourselves, our true selves, with all our idiosyncrasies, blemishes, wrinkles, and eccentricities, we cannot fully live out our potential. So many of us are afraid to be who we are for fear of judgement. It takes courage to let your freak flag fly and not give a damn what anyone else thinks about it.
When you let your hair down, you let out the real you, then life truly begins!
I have learned that while some people just won’t like me, appreciate my way of living, the way I parent my kids, how I frequently swear to enhance my sentences, how I practice my spirituality… others will. And those, those are my people.
Courage
Courage is defined as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty”.
When someone lives with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health condition, it takes great courage to admit that you have a problem. It takes even more courage to ask for help.
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness.
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness.
- 17% of youth (6-17 years) experience a mental health disorder.
Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you and me work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love, and inspire every day. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Tenacity
Tenacity is defined as “the quality or fact of being very determined, or fact of continuing to exist; persistence”.
To be tenacious is to keep going even when everything in your whole body, mind and soul is telling you otherwise. For people experiencing mental health conditions, tenacity is what keeps them getting out of bed each day. It is what prods them to keep living even when they would rather sometimes just throw in the towel.
I think one of my personal greatest strengths is tenacity. Every time life throws some ludicrous shit at me, knocks me on my ass and stomps its boot in my face, I get back up. One. More. Time.
That is the secret. Getting back up, one more time.
What do you value? Are you living your life the way you want to be living it? If not, why?
Yes, you can!