Gain Clarity

Goal

To gain clarity about your values.

What are Values? (pp. 155; 159)

Values are what you want your life to be about. Values are vitalizing, uplifting, and empowering. They are also a direction. Say our direction is east and we are driving. Sometimes we cannot go perfectly due east, we have to go southeast or northeast to stay on the path. But it still takes us in the direction of east. Values are a journey, not a destination. Values are intentional.

Values vs. Goals (p. 159)

Goals are concrete achievable events, situations, or objects. They can be completed, possessed, or finished. Goals often get confused with directions (values).

Imagine If... Exercise (p. 14)

Instructions: Bring to mind an item from your suffering inventory that holds you back from living the life you want to life. This should be an experience or a relationship or a situation that causes you pain that you may have a tendency to avoid or not think about. Imagine how your life would be different if your pain went away. Imagine that someone has waved a magic wand over you, and your pain has vanished. Imagine that you wake up one morning and suddenly, for no reason at all, the pain and suffering are gone. What would you do? What would you want your life to be about? How has your current psychological struggle interfered with your goals and dreams in life?

Examples: If anger weren’t such a problem for me, I would have more intimate relationships. If I didn’t have so much stress, I would work harder at my career, and I would try to find the job I always dreamed of having.

Reflection (Optional)

Write your thoughts down to better understand this concept.