My values transition in response to and reflection of the circumstances I am encountering. For example, when I am not feeling physically well, and need to accommodate my wellness with changes in my daily behavior, I value my health more. Or if my work life is demanding, I might find that I value being versus doing more.
I appreciate that when my goals and values are not aligned I experience greater stress and mixed emotions. These life moments cause inner conflicts, a feeling of tiredness and can influence my ability to make good choices. Yet, when my goals and values are in line, supporting each other, their symbiotic potential is generative, inspiring positive energy and emotions. For me, this simplifies and clarifies life and career by highlighting the interconnectedness of clear values and inspiration in my daily life and work ethic.
Inspiration stimulates the mind and emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. It comes from the Latin, inspirare which means “To breathe, to blow into …the Spirit is within.” This nurtures our skills, knowledge and attitudes – our ongoing personal development. When you notice that you’re growing as a person, you feel more of a sense of hope – feeling, thinking and acting with energy, drive, perseverance and calm expectancy of positive outcomes that will be meaningful for you because it evolved out of knowing what you value most.
Big Rocks, anonymous
An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full? "Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes. "The time management expert replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full? "By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration? "One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the 'big rocks' in your life -- time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all."
So, when you are reflecting on this story, ask yourself this question:
What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first. "
