20 Dec Goals as Tools to Help Live Out our Values
Living an authentic life means being honest with ourselves so that we can come to understand what truly matters to us i.e. our values. Values come from our core, and serve as a compass, to guide us through life, providing purpose and direction. Goals, while significant, are simply tools to help us express and act on our values in practical ways. They are milestones that evolve with our circumstances but are not the ultimate destination.
Another way of looking at this is to think of values as representing the “why” behind our actions, reflecting our core beliefs, such as nurturing relationships or contributing to others’ well-being. In contrast, goals define the “how,” breaking these principles into actionable steps like dedicating time to loved ones or learning new skills. Understanding this difference is important because goals that are not underscored by what we truly believe in and are important to us (i.e. our values) will ultimately feel hollow – we might succeed but be still left feeling unfulfilled.
Nonetheless, remember that it’s common to mistake goals for values, especially as we grow. We can end up pursuing goals that we think are aligned with what is truly important to us, only to realise when we achieve them, that they were not so important after all. For instance, pouring energy into excelling at work may seem fulfilling until one realises that family, a core value, has been neglected. It may be about remembering that excelling at work helps to provide for the family materially and realising that relationships with family members have suffered.
If this happens, it’s important to know that this is often how we learn and grow. Not everyone knows what their values are at the start. It will be helpful to think of these experiences not as failures but as valuable opportunities for growth. By accepting our mistakes with compassion and recognising that we’ve done our best, we can use these insights to refine our understanding of what truly matters and the difference between a goal and a value. For example, it may even be the case that there was no choice in the early stage of one’s career – so it’s also useful to reflect on what has happened.
In summary: anchoring our goals in values brings clarity, intention, and motivation to our actions. This alignment allows us to adapt to life’s changes while staying true to ourselves. When things go off track, it’s important to unpack and think carefully about the situation, so that we can grow and learn about what truly matters to us, i.e. our values. Remaining true to this process of self-study will help us live a life that is authentically us.
If you would like to have a conversation further on how to navigate this, please contact us at Prosper Health Collective on 6381 0071 to make an appointment with one of our friendly therapists.
