This month I'm taking a look at values, specifically your 'core' values. So, what are they and why do you need to be aware of them? Values are what makes you you, they are your guiding principles and what motivates you. They are your 'personal rules' by which you choose to live and they influence your emotions and behaviours and therefore have an enormous impact on what you do and say.

A core value is one that is relevant to all aspects of your life and when dishonoured can lead to stress, e.g. if 'family' is important to you, carrying out a values elicitation might expand this into connectedness, bonding, being together, spending time with loved ones e.g.  If you then have to spend longer and longer hours at work (much as you might enjoy this on one level), it will be causing you to dishonour your 'family' value and therefore you will become more and more stressed.   We also have values that are specific to particular areas of our lives such as relationships, career, health etc.

When you are aware of your values and are living in alignment with them you will more than likely feel as if everything is going your way and that you are achieving your goals quite easily.  Indeed, setting yourself goals becomes much easier as you will know before you even attempt to tackle one whether or not it is likely to succeed.