At Your Core
“Your values create your internal compass that can navigate how you make decisions in your life. If you compromise your core values, you go nowhere.” ― Roy T. Bennett
As a hyper-flexible 57-year-old, I’ve been prioritizing core stability in my yoga practice for about three years. This focus has helped my practice to grow despite my aging body. And since I tend to teach what I practice, my students (much to their delight…) have been on the receiving end of my focus on the core. They may not love the work at the time, but they and I have seen exponential progress in their practices as well.
I’ve recently begun to think more about my core off the mat; not just my physical core, but my deep core—my personal values. What are the guiding principles that dictate my behavior? Where and why might there be incongruencies in how my beliefs play out in my life?
Some of you might have done exercises that help team members define an organization’s culture. But have you ever defined your personal values? If not, check out this list of 50 common core values used by author and entrepreneur, James Clear, to help his clients hone in on ways to live better. He believes that the best way to change the world is in concentric circles: start with yourself and work your way out from there. He recommends choosing fewer than five values to focus on. If everything’s a core value, he says, then nothing’s a priority.
From his list and my own, I’ve come up with six that I’m going to try to whittle down:
A positive outlook
Family & friends
Balance
Personal growth
Peace
Meaningful work
I’d love to hear what you come up with!