This is a series about authenticity, validation, self-belief and personal power.
You’ve probably already heard about values, the basic key principles that underpin your life. Harder to understand is the concept of your truth, and how to live by that. It took me quite a while to come to terms with what that really meant.
Values
Values are those principles that you believe are the most important and fundamental to the way you live your life. They might include concepts such as honesty, loyalty, responsibility and fairness. There are, of course, many more of them.
If you search for the term “values” on the Internet, it’s easy to find quite a few long lists of values with up to a hundred terms – and many of those sound very worthy. But they are a good starting point.
What are Your Values?
Have you thought about your values? If you haven’t already done so, try working out your own small list of core values – perhaps between five or ten. It’s a difficult job to narrow it down to that number!
When you look at a long list of values, try to think if each one really matters to you, and if you could bear to live without it – or if that value strikes a chord in your heart.
I decided that my core values were honesty, integrity, kindness, loyalty, respect, professionalism, independence, fairness, creativity and healthiness. That’s ten altogether, but I would hate to live without any of those.
What is Your Truth?
Your truth is another concept that is more difficult to understand, but even more critical. There are quite a few definitions racing around the Internet about speaking what you see as the truth. But that is not what I’m talking about here.
Your personal truth, in my view, refers to your inner values – the ones we’ve just been talking about. If you really know what your values are, and they are in your heart and soul, then that is your truth.
Living Your truth
Your goal should then be to live according to those values in every aspect of your life.
That is called living your truth. It is also referred to as living in alignment with your truth.
By doing that, you will feel a sense of peace, joy and harmony with yourself and the world. Do you think that sounds as if it would be good?
That means living, loving and working in a way that complies with your values. For instance, is your job a good fit with your values? Is your truth reflected in your home and family life? And are you living your truth in your social life and other activities?
This is about how you live and behave. But it also relates to the behaviour you accept from other people. You should stick with your truth when it comes to what you will accept from people who are close to you. Don’t tolerate behaviour that doesn’t fit with your values.
For instance, if honesty is one of your values, then don’t tolerate lies and deception from other people. If your values are to treat people with decency and kindness, then don’t tolerate unkind, nasty or disrespectful behaviour from others.
I’ll be talking more about that in my next article. That will be about your boundaries and how to set them.
Have you decided on your values, and are you living your truth? I’d love to hear about it.
Here are my other articles in this series:
Validate Yourself – and Transform Your Life
Standards – a vital part of living your truth
Having Boundaries – for healthy relationships
#selflove #values #healthyliving
Thank you for stopping by. My name is Toni Pike, a multi-genre author who loves writing thrillers for adults, non-fiction, and hilarious books for children.
I’m the author of DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS. My latest release is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE.
I’m also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight and HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips.
All my books can be found HERE.
You can find me online here:
Website: tonipike.com
Amazon author page: Toni Pike
Instagram: @authorlovestravel – Sharing my travel photos from around the world
Facebook: Toni Pike – Author
Twitter: @piketoni1
Linkedin Toni Pike – Linkedin
Email: authortoni.pike@gmail.com
Text and Image copyright © 2020 Toni Pike – All Rights Reserved
Toni Pike 
You’ve nailed many of my core values. I used to teach character education throughout the school year, and I’d focus on one value each month (responsibility, honesty, perseverance, etc.) The great thing about children’s books is that there are always a bunch of titles that cover these values.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Pete, What a wonderful idea.💡 Your students were so lucky to have you – and those would be such valuable lessons. Toni
LikeLiked by 1 person
You nailed it, Toni! Thanks so much for sharing another inspirational piece. I love this! xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Natalie – I’m so glad you liked it. Have a fabulous dat. Toni xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice distinction, Toni. It seems that values live in the realm of the mind and living one’s truth puts those values into action and manifests them in the world. I tend to gravitate toward “kindness” as a core value, and I try to live it in all my choices. A lovely post. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Diana, Thank you so much. Kindness is indeed a wonderful value, including kindness to yourself. It sounds as if you are really living your truth. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is very good advice, Toni. It is good to be reminded about these things and the need to keep your goals, ethics and values aligned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Robbie. I’m glad you found it helpful – I think it’s so important to have your life aligned with your values, and I’m sure you are an expert at that. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Toni.. so important to have core values and echo those you have stated for yourself, and also so important to pass them along to others.. As to truth it can be a challenge for so many reasons, especially if that truth goes against society norms. I think one of our core values is to ensure that those who are sidelined are free to live their truths..I will press for Wednesday as this is an important subject for discussion..hugs Sally x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Sally – I agree, it’s something very important to think about. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your article Toni, core values are so important in our daily lives even if we are sometimes subconcious of being led by our own instincts to follow what we believe are our core values. I look forward to reading more about this subject.
Joyce
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Joyce – a very interesting point. We really need to get to know ourselves well and work our what is important to us. Toni x
LikeLike
I love your article about core values. They are so important to every day life even if we only subconciously follow our instincts to adhere to our own values. I look forward to more.
Joyce
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve quit two jobs because they conflicted with my core values. Luckily, my husband and I were in a financial position that enabled me to. Others aren’t as fortunate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Liz, It was great that you were able to do that – I know it would often be difficult for people to do that. Something to think about. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely post and your words and thoughts capture ‘values’ beautifully, Toni. Kindness, respect, loyalty, honesty, integrity are intertwined. I try to pause before I speak or act. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jane – I’m so glad you like it. I love your idea of stopping to think before speaking – the world would be a much better place if we all did that. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truer words. It’s a challenge to abide by ones own morals and standards these day, what with cancel culture alive and well. Still, it must be done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right, Jacqui – to your own self be true. Toni
LikeLike