Why Do Values Matter?

Why Do Values Matter?

By Steve Pavlina

The main benefit of knowing your values is that you will gain(gān) tremendous(trəˈmendəs) clarity(ˈklerədē) and focus, but ultimately(ˈəltəmətlē) you must use that newfound clarity to make consistent decisions and take committed action. So the whole point of discovering your values is to improve the results you get in those areas(ˈe(ə)rēə) that are truly most important to you.

Values are priorities(prīˈôrədē) that tell you how to spend your time, right here, right now. There are two reasons that priorities are important for our lives.

The first reason is that time is our most limited resource; time does not renew itself. Once we spend a day, it’s gone forever. If we waste(wāst) that day by investing our time in actions that don’t produce the results we want, that loss(läs,lôs) is permanent(ˈpərmənənt). We can earn more money, improve our physical bodies, and repair broken relationships, but we cannot redo yesterday. If we all had infinite(ˈinfənət) time, then values and priorities would be irrelevant(əˈreləvənt). But at least here on earth, we appear to be mortal(ˈmôrdl) with limited life spans, and if we value our mortal lives, then it’s logical(ˈläjək(ə)l) to invest them as best we can.

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The second reason priorities matter is that we human beings tend to be fairly(ˈfe(ə)rlē) inconsistent(ˌinkənˈsistənt) in how we invest our time and energy. Most of us are easily distracted. It’s easy for us to fall into the trap of living by different priorities every day. One day you exercise; the next day you slack(slak) off. One day you work productively; the next day you’re stricken(ˈstrikən) with a bout(bout) of laziness(ˈlāzēnəs). If we don’t consciously use our priorities to stick(stik) to a clear and consistent course, we’ll naturally(ˈnaCHərəlē) drift off course and shift all over the place. And this kind of living yields(yēld) poor results. Imagine an airplane that went wherever the wind(wīnd) took it – who knows where it would eventually(əˈven(t)SH(o͞o)əlē) land? And the flight itself would likely be stressful(ˈstresfəl) and uncertain(ˌənˈsərtn).

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https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2004/12/living-your-values/