Taking Stock of Our Values in a Post-COVID World

AS A SOCIETY we constantly talk about our values—as if we actually know what those values are.

- KRISTINE KLUSSMAN, PHD

If you had to take a pop quiz right now that asked you to name your top three values in life, would you have your answers ready? In my experience, most people confronted with this question feel quite unsure of their response.

Rarely do people take the time as adults to inventory their values thoughtfully and identify the ones that matter most to them. And even more rarely do people align their daily life activities with their most cherished values. As a result, identifying our own personal values is one of the best first steps to cultivating authentic connection to ourself.

Our reflexively stated values probably include things we’ve inherited from our parents, spouse, teachers, and mentors, as well as things that we think we should stand for, but that don’t necessarily reflect our real priorities. Or they may just be relics from another time, when that was the most important thing to you in life … and now, you have different priorities.