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- Realign with your values
Your values don’t necessarily stay static
throughout your life. When you were
younger, you may have valued freedom and
adventure more than security and time
with your family. Subtle change can occur
because you are making decisions that are
no longer align with your new values.
In her book The Life Plan, Shannah
Kennedy says, “Values have a major
influence on your behaviour and serve as
broad guidelines to make authentic choices
that leave you feeling more content, happy
and satisfied as life unfolds. When your
actions aren’t in alignment with your
values, you find yourself without a sense of
achievement or feeling out of control.”
While there are a lot of great books and
online guides that can help you identify
your values, you can start by using your
emotions as a guide to give you an insight
into what you truly value in your life today.
Action Tips
When were you happy?: Thinking over your
life recently, when were you the happiest
and most fulfilled? Feeling happy and
content is a sign that you are living aligned
with your core values. Maybe you were on
a working holiday and loved the flexibility,
so freedom could be a core value for you.
Good decisions: What decisions have you
made recently that you were really happy
and confident about making? For example,
maybe you were really happy about a new
job you have started because it allows you to
think creatively. If this was the case, creative
expression may be one of your top values.- Develop a solution mindset
When you can pinpoint where tension is
coming from in your life, the next step is
to move into a solution mindset. Devising
possible ways to solve your current
challenges is important if you want to
effectively move through change and find
your flow in life again.
Sometimes you will need to try more
than one solution to find a response
that works. Don’t be discouraged if this
happens but know that this is part of the
process of responding to change and
working out what works and what doesn’t
for you in your life.
As you try things to get your life back
on track, your regular check-in time
will provide you with the necessary time
to reflect and see if your solutions are
working well or if they need adjusting.Listen to your body and mind
and embrace the shifting
nature of life, knowing you
have what it takes to respond
and grow with change.wellbeing.com.au | 61