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Daily Question, April 13

How am I currently being faithful to my values? Are there shifts I would like to make for greater alignment?

  • Malag

    I’m usually off values to some extent. I build an error tolerance into the system. I could spend a bit more time contemplating my values. I think trying to force alignment is teeing up for failure. Better to allow awareness to infuse action in a gentler way.

  • Hot Sauce

    Honestly, I’m struggling with what my values are at this point in time. I guess, however, that, since I value wisdom, the seeking itself is helping me be faithful to my values. Once I have found the values that work for me, then I can know what values I want to align myself with.

    • Malag

      Hi Hot Sauce I found values exercises in acceptance commitment therapy to be useful in clarifying my values and orienting me.

  • Don Jones

    For me it goes to my integrity. That is, who I am, what I think and what I do. By keeping these three in alignment, everything else falls into place.

  • Elaine

    Keep on the path of purchasing which supports local, sustainable and ethical rather than corporate and ethically questionable (even if it seems to costs more) . A good recent decision was to join a community supported fishery. Another was purchasing sustainable denim jeans made in Canada, another was purchasing a painting by a local artist.

  • Cathie
    In the past several years, one of my evolving values has been to try to leave a smaller footprint - to take care of our earth. Though never seeing it as a value when I was younger the concern has moved more and more into my consciousness. That being said, I don't feel I am doing enough. I need a shift for better execution! This question made me realize that I do not have a plan to move the value from thought to reality. So for greater alignment, I need a plan vs. just saying and doing thin...

    In the past several years, one of my evolving values has been to try to leave a smaller footprint – to take care of our earth.
    Though never seeing it as a value when I was younger the concern has moved more and more into my consciousness.
    That being said, I don’t feel I am doing enough. I need a shift for better execution!
    This question made me realize that I do not have a plan to move the value from thought to reality.
    So for greater alignment, I need a plan vs. just saying and doing things on the fly…like…I will buy less in plastic etc.
    Step 1 – realize and write down all the things I can do to better care for our earth! (this today:)
    Step 2 – determine how I can achieve these intentions
    Step 3 – execute and pivot where needed
    Step 4 – forgive myself when I fall short and start again

    Read More
    • Javier Visionquest

      identifying your support team (what businesses and organizations share your values and efforts through their own culture and mission)

      • Cathie

        Thanks – with your note I just asked our local cafe if they would use a cup I brought for take out iced coffee and they said yes!!! Appreciate you thinking beyond:)

  • Antoinette

    I feel I am being faithful to my values.
    I can always try to make sure I’m coming back to my intentions as often as possible.

  • SK

    At this point and time in my life my values are the guiding force for me- integrity, trust, self-worth, resilience, determination, dedication. I must be able to extend these outward regardless of others actions around me. It I cannot be true to myself- how can I be anything to anyone else?

  • Toni
    I value authenticity in myself and others and when I faulter I suffer and so do those around me. I can't change anyone and change does not come easy to anyone anyway. I can be ultra hard on myself and others. Progress not perfection is a slogan in AA and a great thought to remember when I get could up in anger and resentment. Forgiveness also, to constantly remember that everyone (including myself) is acting out of their state of consciousness. So "staying awake" is a challenge in order to ...

    I value authenticity in myself and others and when I faulter I suffer and so do those around me. I can’t change anyone and change does not come easy to anyone anyway. I can be ultra hard on myself and others. Progress not perfection is a slogan in AA and a great thought to remember when I get could up in anger and resentment. Forgiveness also, to constantly remember that everyone (including myself) is acting out of their state of consciousness. So “staying awake” is a challenge in order to be authentic. Recently my kitten (7 month old) was sick. After taking him to the vet and communicating with him and following his instructions and giving the meds he prescribed there was great improvement but not total resolve. We both agreed to give it a day or two before giving him a different antibiotic to see if his body will self correct. He is doing well today so he is out of harms way. A family member who is very high strung was giving her opinion and advice without me asking and instead of letting her anxiety in I simple told her I was following what the Dr. suggested and will take it from there. She does not listen and only texts but does not read the texts carefully so her advice was based on her experience with her pet not mine. I must admit it pissed me off and I wanted to resend what I sent earlier. I didn’t. I just had to quickly get off the phone. (after she finally agreed to speaking instead of texting) I realized she was only trying to help and I just needed to do what was best in my level of understanding and not react. My kitten is better today and that’s what matters most to me right now. So If I can remember to give people the benefit of the doubt and not rush to anger and resentment that would be best all around.

    Read More
  • Carol
    When I think of being faithful to my values, I think of trust. Do I trust myself? Yes, but it took years and years of ups and downs to do so. I often say to others that life is trustworthy but embracing that stance did not come easily to me because it requires a deep willingness to be vulnerable. My mentor used to say, “We are here to integrate (integrity) our insides and our outsides.” That rings true to me. Integrity breeds honesty; honesty breeds a self-awareness that leads to an open, c...

    When I think of being faithful to my values, I think of trust. Do I trust myself? Yes, but it took years and years of ups and downs to do so. I often say to others that life is trustworthy but embracing that stance did not come easily to me because it requires a deep willingness to be vulnerable. My mentor used to say, “We are here to integrate (integrity) our insides and our outsides.” That rings true to me. Integrity breeds honesty; honesty breeds a self-awareness that leads to an open, caring and compassionate mind and heart. As far as shifting for greater alignment, I have to remind myself often that to integrate my insides and my outsides challenges me to be an instrument of the peace and the love I seek. Life calls us to BE before we DO. After all, we’re called human beings not human doings!

    Read More
    • Holly in Ohio

      I love that perspective. That quote is truly profound.

      How can we find real and healthy love, if we don’t know how to be loving to ourselves and others in an unselfish way?
      How can we be an instrument of peace, if we have not made peace within ourselves?
      How can we be a calming influence, if we are not calm? Lol. I can think of times I’ve heard someone shout, “CALM DOWN!” to an upset child. Yeah, like that’s going to work.

      I love your quote an insight into it!

      • Carol

        Holly, I find your interpretation very insightful and helpful.

  • Patricia

    I want to continue to place more trust in God’s daily grace for me.

  • DeVonna

    I’ve left my church. It was a sad and difficult decision to make but I could not ignore the dawning realization that it was not the right place for me. Last year’s pandemic crisis and toxic political climate helped me see what I value about life. I was not aligned with my fellow parishoners. The good news is I think I’ve found a different congregation that better suits my belief-set. Change is an opportunity for growth.

    • Toni

      Years ago when I faced a similar challenge. I asked God to show me if I needed to stay or leave and he did without a shadow of a doubt. I’m still not tied into the new church but now I have a spiritual director who is helping me adjust. I wish you well on your transition to a new congregation. Bloom where you are planted someone once said to me. I hope I am able to and I hope the same for you.

    • Carol

      Sending blessings for you and your spiritual journey.

  • Javier Visionquest

    Daddy Dean’s Family Five:
    ∙ Inspire trust
    ∙ Cultivate respect
    ∙ Foster responsibility
    ∙ Instill discipline
    ∙ Enforce boundaries

  • Rob Kinslow

    In five weeks I will be ordained a minister, a lifelong goal shaped by the values instilled in me at a young age — to seek and share grace. Currently I’m living my values by not pressuring myself to have the perfect ordination — trying to remind myself that the grace comes unbidden and is shared simply by being my true self.

  • Holly in Ohio

    I’m pretty true, yes. In most values I am very true, but I am in the process of returning to gentleness and kindness – more acceptance, less assertiveness and “fixing.” And I’m trying to develop better kindness and acceptance of myself, lumps and all, and with that I hope to free myself from the tides of external validation.

  • Trish

    I value my spiritual formation which has led me to leave my job. My world will open in ways I’m not even aware of and this is both frightening & super exciting. I need to de-clutter in many areas of my life. This is just the beginning…..

  • devy

    I have several core values which I truly are important to me. I’ve also developed new core values or changed them over time. At times I deviate off course either by internal or external influence or I question things. When I do go track, i take time to think, I right myself up, dust myself off and go back on track. Throughout the day I continually make adjustments to keep on My path if necessary

  • EJP

    I hold my values close to my heart and adjust them often when needed.

  • sunnypatti

    I am faithful to my values by being honest and loving with myself. I am better at noticing things that throw me off from being who I want to be and who I really am, and make an effort to work on those ‘triggers’ so that I can stay aligned with my truth and with God. I like Kevin’s garden metaphor – we have to tend to things and take in the nourishment that is offered to thrive and flourish. And we also have to pull some weeds sometimes!

  • Howie Geib
    The how of it is tiny corrections all the time. I have a friend who is a pilot of 747s (freight) and he tells me that the whole way across, say, the North Atlantic, the plane is at 35,000 ft and going 500 or so miles an hour and the wind always pushing it off course, so the computer system keep making micro adjustments and putting it back on course. Life is like that for me in a way. Lots of tiny corrections. I do have to pay attention. Be conscious of my values. So alignment is small degrees no...

    The how of it is tiny corrections all the time. I have a friend who is a pilot of 747s (freight) and he tells me that the whole way across, say, the North Atlantic, the plane is at 35,000 ft and going 500 or so miles an hour and the wind always pushing it off course, so the computer system keep making micro adjustments and putting it back on course. Life is like that for me in a way. Lots of tiny corrections. I do have to pay attention. Be conscious of my values. So alignment is small degrees not great ones.

    Read More
  • Kevin

    Wonderful question today! I certainly hope that I am maintaining my current values because they define who I am as a person. Making sure that they remain in “alignment” is like keeping a garden, where the soil is my faith, the rain is community, and the sun is my God. Let’s plant!

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