Missed Part 1 of this series? It’s right HERE. p.s. Your butt looks really cute today.
As I was saying yesterday, through journaling and therapy, I identified twenty-ish personal values. But after reading Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, I wanted to whittle that list down to two core values. I doubted I could actually do that, but I would at least give it the old college try.
Brown lists over a hundred different values and challenges the reader to choose two core values. If you have the actual book, it’s on page 188. If you don’t have the book, it’s right HERE on Brown’s website.
Yesterday, I went through the list and highlighted the values that jumped out at me:
- Adventure
- Authenticity
- Belonging
- Connection
- Courage
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Faith
- Family
- Intuition
- Learning
I was really surprised when I saw “adventure” on the list. I had never thought of it as a value. Sure, it’s in the name of my memoir and podcasts, but could it be my value?
I decided that “adventure” was too fun to be a core value. My values were “authenticity” and “curiosity.” I wrote that it my journal.
It did not feel right.
I looked at the list again.
Damn, my eyes kept straying toward the word “adventure.” I wrote the word “adventure” in my journal. That felt good. That felt right. I wrote the word “curiosity” again. That felt good, but not nearly as right as “adventure.” I wrote the words “adventure” and “curiosity” in my journal several more times before I could no longer deny it.
I am a very curious lady. I love my curiosity. My curiosity is one of my super powers.
But it’s not my core value.
My core values are adventure and authenticity, and writing that in a blog post feels so. effing. good. I feel like I have come home to myself. I still value my curiosity but I see that it’s a secondary value that drives my authenticity and adventure. Curiosity drives me toward being my most authentic self and prompts me to seek adventure.
The same goes for a lot of other values that I hold near and dear to my heart. Compassion? I have to be compassionate in order to be my authentic self. Courage? I have to be courageous in order to seek adventure. Intuition? Intuition is the dynamo powering my authentic, adventurous spirit.
I thought that identifying two core values would diminish my sense of self. It has, in fact, done the opposite. I know myself better now than I ever have before.