Starting 2011: My Ten Core Values. Repost with Yours!

After reading this post from Donna Maria's Indie Business Blog, I felt inspired to write my own list of personal core values.  Identifying your deepest values can give you a "life-direction compass"and help you determine if you're on the right path or way off.  If you're spending time and energy on activities that are not in alignment with your list of core values, you'll end up feeling burned out, resentful and exhausted.

What are personal core values?  A value is a principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desirable.  In a nutshell, what you hold important in your life. 

How about doing a repost with your list of personal values?   Declaring them a good way to get clear about what you hold important - especially if you're setting goals for the New Year. 

MyVisionPortal.com gives a good Personal Core Value List which you may find helpful if you need some guidance in finding out what your personal values are.     Many people don't know because they've never thought about it.  That's okay.  It's never to late to learn.

1. Gratitude to my Higher Power.  Without gratitude to my Higher Power (Spirit, God, Goddess, Grandfather) nothing has meaning and the door to abundance and good would slam in my face.  How can you have more when you don't appreciate what you already have?  Stop right now, look around the room and quickly list 10 things you're grateful for that you've been taking for granted like electricity, your vision, your spine, your computer, light from the sun, etc.
2. Family.  I need to belong to a tribe.  It doesn't have to be huge like my Italian friends have with their 30-something cousins and aunts and uncles, but without my husband, my sons, my grandson, my mother, even my pets, my life would have an unbearable void at the center. My family is my sun around which everything in my life revolves.
3. Creativity.  I can't not be creative.  I have to inject creativity into everything I do.   If I were trapped in a cave (*shudder*) and waiting for release, no doubt I'd pass the time building dirt snowmen, stacking rocks in patterns or painting on the walls with bat guano.  Creativity is my breath and without it, life would be dull dull dull.
4. Independence.   I spent the first half of my adult life working for "the man" and the other half working for myself.   There is no comparison to the freedom I feel working at what I love on my own terms.   I don't have to wait for a vacation day or settle for the income they decide my work is worth. Being self-employed is hard work to be sure, but so very rewarding.
5. Humor and Playfulness.  This heading could also have been "Honoring My Inner Child" Most people I meet take themselves and life waaaay too seriously.  I find humor in my classroom helps learning and makes the day fun no matter what we're studying.   When was the last time you did something playful, spontaneous and utterly ridiculous?  Go on, dance in your front yard today in celebration of the New Year.  Who cares what the neighbors say.  They'll be peering from behind the curtains wishing they had the courage to be so free.
6. Achievement. I have to agree with Donna Maria on this one.  Setting goals and achieving them are addicting.  I love the validation of kudos from colleagues and family and I love the feeling of obtaining something I set my sights on.  Even if I miss my mark, I usually get something else equally cool or better!
7. Passion.  Yet another that Donna Maria and I have in common.  If you are living a life without passion for what you are doing - work, education, service - you must stop and begin to do the thing that makes you jump out of bed in the morning with excitement and sets you on fire!
8. Learning.   Education and learning can come in many forms, from formal schooling to taking online classes to simply keeping a journal to increase awareness of yourself.   When we stop learning, we stop growing.
   
   There are others, but these were the main ones I wanted to share with you today.
   
   Now, I'd love to read YOUR list of Core Values!