Sponsored by Smart Strategies for Successful Living Values and Goals: Your Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life Module 1 Values Clarification Life s ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want. Marsha Sinetar Introduction As we go through life, our set of values affect every aspect of our lives, including our decisions, actions, attitudes, and priorities. In our 20s and 30s, our family structure, work, health, and dreams radically change by the time we reach our 50s and 60s. At the age we think about winding down and enjoying a life of leisure, many of us are faced with two compelling questions: What s Next? and How can I maintain a quality lifestyle, especially if I live for another 25 years or so. Studies show that having a purpose aligned with targeted values and goals will improve the quality of aging. In addition, people who write down their plans are 33% more likely to meet them. So, let s be proactive. How can we establish values and implement goals that create a meaningful life now and in the future? Step #1 Take the first step in creating new values and personal goals that will redefine how you live your life. This is a self-paced learning experience that you can complete on your own schedule, timeline, and from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a good computer, internet 1 P a g e
access, and a willingness to work through this process. Be warned this is not a process that you can do with minimal time or thought. The more time and effort you put into each step, the more clarity and motivation you will have. While you may not have this clarity on your roadmap all at once, by committing to and working through each of the three (3) modules, you will succeed in building a roadmap designed to produce a meaningful life now and in the future. The modules include the following: Module 1 Values Clarification Module 2 Establishing Personal Goals Module 3 - Creating and Implementing SMART Goals Activity A: Think about your life changes over the last 30 to 40 years. Off the top of your head, ask yourself and jot down the answers to the following questions. What gave your life meaning and purpose when you were in your 20s, 30s, and 40s? How has your life changed over the years to alter what makes it meaningful now? Step #2 How do we define the meaning of Values and Goals? Let s start with a working definition for Values. Before we do, take a few moments to review the words provided in the Values picture above. 2 P a g e
Values Values influence our decisions, affect our actions and opinions, and determine our priorities. Values will be influenced by our upbringing and personal experience. Values are personal qualities and beliefs that are important to us. Values may be specific or general in nature. Values may or may not align with our behavior or how we live our lives. As we get older, values will change with our life experiences. Understanding our values can help us achieve our goals. Goals How do we define Goals? Goals are ideas or achievements in which time and effort are directed. Goals help clarify and put focus on life s direction. It can give us purpose. Goals can be short term (usually less than a year to achieve) or long term (usually 1 year or more to achieve). A clear goal must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time oriented. Adopted from Healthy Living: Values and Goal Setting and MindTools Step #3 How would you define your personal values? How does your current behavior in your everyday life align with your top personal values. Activity B: Review the Values listed in the table on page 4. Under the category of Top Values, simply identify those top eight (8) to ten (10) Values that are the most important to you. Activity C: After you have completed Activity B, ask yourself how well you are living or utilizing your identified Top Values in your daily life. Under the category of Behavior in the table on page 4, use the scale: High H, Medium M, or Low L to describe how well you live, utilize, or incorporate your selected values into your everyday life. Example: Mary ranked Honesty as one of her top values, but she works for a corrupt company and is expected to do unethical transactions on a regular basis. She has a full-time job with this company and needs to work. While Mary would rank Honesty with an X under Top Values, she would mark L for Low in Behavior due to how she lives this value in her daily life. Mary s Example Top Values Behavior Mary s Example - Value Top Values Behavior Value Generosity Service/Contribution Honesty X L Spirituality 3 P a g e
Value Top Values Behavior Value Top Values Behavior Accomplishments/results Intimacy Adaptability Joy Adventure/Excitement Love Aesthetics/Beauty Loyalty Altruism Nature Autonomy Optimism Caring Partnership Commitment Patience Community Peace Compassion Personal Growth Connecting/Bonding Power Creativity Privacy/solitude Education/Learning Recognition/Acknowledgment Emotional health Risk taking Environment Romance/Magic Forgiveness Security Freedom/Independence Self-discipline Fun Self-expression Generosity Service/Contribution Honesty Spirituality Hope Trustworthiness Humor Vitality Note: Recognizing these values and how well you are living them in your daily life will help you create clarity, motivation, and, ultimately, your personal goals. As in Mary s example, it will also identify possible areas of stress or tension. As you go through this exercise, understand that when your Top Value is high but your behavior is low, this may be an area of stress for you. Step #3 To identify where you want to go in the future, you need a baseline of where you are now as well as its benefit to your life. Take time to think about your current situation before you do the next activity. Evaluate your personal life in terms of these categories: Family, Social, Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and/or Financial. Activity D: What are your best characteristics or qualities (personal strengths or assets) that you possess to manage your life. Identify three to five strengths or assets that influence your current life. Determine how each one adds value or benefit to who and what you are. Example: Judy determined attention to detail as one of her personal strengths or assets and identified how it helped her keep in control of her life in these areas: financial and social. Judy s Example - Personal Strength or Asset: My attention to detail. Judy s Example I maintain accurate financial records that help me successfully stay within my budget. I use a weekly planner to schedule my appointments and meetings. I rarely forget or arrive late to my appointments and/or planned events. 4 P a g e
ONE: Personal Strength or Asset: TWO: Personal Strength or Asset: THREE: Personal Strength or Asset: FOUR: Personal Strength or Asset: FIVE: Personal Strength or Asset: 5 P a g e
Activity E: In your evaluation of your current life, think about the aspects or areas in your personal life that you aren t totally happy with or would like to work on. List three to five areas in your personal life that you have or want to improve (your limitations, barriers, fears or weaknesses). Example: Tom would like to continue his education to get a better job. However, because of his current age, work, and family obligations, he feels that he cannot effectively compete. Tom also wants to spend more time at the gym to get fit and stay healthy. Again, he doesn t have much time to regularly work out. Tom s Example - What aspects or areas in your personal life would you want to change? Include your limitations, barriers, fears, or weaknesses. Be realistic. 1. I would like to take night classes in financial planning to advance my career. I am limited because I am older and already work 40 hours a week. My family also requires a lot of my time outside of work. 2. I have gained twenty pounds over the last five years. I want to get back into shape, but I find it difficult to make it over to the gym because of my work hours and family life. 1. What aspects or areas in your personal life would you want to change? Include your limitations, barriers, fears, or weaknesses. Be realistic. 2. 3. 4. 5. What would you love to do, either for fun or to earn extra income? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? Reflect on these categories: Family, Social, Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and/or Financial. Activity F: List and prioritize what you love to do/accomplish in the order in which you will try to attain them with #1 being the highest or your greatest priority. To do so, ask yourself the following: Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Example: Lucy enjoys working in her garden, volunteering at the local library, being active in her church, and exercising at the YMCA. 6 P a g e
Lucy s Example: I love to exercise at the YMCA but can only go occasionally. Priority #3 Lucy s Example: I love to work in my garden every week. Priority #2 Lucy s Example: I love to volunteer at the local library and read to the Priority #4 children. I can only go about once a month. Lucy s Example: I love to attend church services once a week and be actively Priority #1 involved in special church events at least two or three times a week. What would you love to do, accomplish, or complete in your personal life now and in the future? Prioritize this list based upon importance, attainment, and feasibility. 1. I love Priority 2. I love Priority 3. I love Priority 4. I love Priority 5. I love Priority 6. I love Priority 7. I love Priority 8. I love Priority Congratulations!!! You have just completed one of the first small steps that will get you on the path to accomplishing your major goals and creating a meaningful life. This workshop module will help you establish your baseline. Feel free to go back to this module to re-evaluate and adjust your responses as your life changes. Remember Values and Goals are a reflection of your current personal life. Activity G: Complete all activities in Module 1 and print them out for future reference as you work through Module 2 and Module 3. For your convenience, use the corresponding Activity Worksheets (1.B.C, 1.D, and 1.E.F) for your answers. This will help to reduce the cost of printing high volumes of paper. 7 P a g e