A List of 5 Core Values I Live By Everyday

When your values are clear, making decisions become easier.

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Roy E. Disney

How do you define Core Values?

Core values are those attributes that define you, drive you through life, and differentiate you from others. They are the words found immediately following “I am” when someone asks you what principles you stand for in life. If you truly live out the words you speak, then other people should be able to backup those attributes about you without question.

Here are my five core values that I attempt to live out and exemplify everyday:

• I am virtuous: I live my life with integrity. My actions remain consistent regardless of who’s watching. I pride myself in always being honest with others, lead myself and others in making ethical decisions, and live a morally straight life. I can always be counted on to do what I say I’m going to do, when and how I say I will do it.
• I am diligent: I am determined and purposeful in my life’s direction. I’m a morning person and strive to make every second I’m awake be fruitful and productive.
• I am loving: I am empathetic and understanding to others emotions and feelings. I forgive others as I must ask others for forgiveness for my mistakes and shortcomings that are bound to happen in spite of my best efforts.
• I am authentic: I am flawed and imperfect but I am myself. Not everyone will like me but I don’t change my personality based on the people that surround me at a given moment.
• I am joyful: I always try to find the positive in life. I enjoy being mindful and present in the now. Life is short and I try to make the best of every situation, even the challenges that I am sure to encounter.

Am I perfect in these endeavors? Of course not. I recognize that these are lofty ideals and that I have had my share of bad days and difficult moments where I have let my emotions get the best of me. These values are how I hold myself accountable and serve as a moral compass to get me immediately back on the right path again.

The Challenge

The challenge begins when the words you believe define you aren’t echoed by those who know you every day. When you’re trying to change and become a better person, when you’re trying to redefine yourself, how do you prove to others that you’re different? This can only be accomplished through consistently living out and reinforcing your values daily and doing so over a prolonged period of time. Neither consistency, nor time is cheap. It takes belief in yourself, self-control and diligence.

I know that I am an imperfect person. I know that I’m not the man I want to be, and everyday I attempt to close the gap between where I believe I stand today and where I hope to be at the end of my life. I have stumbled and made many mistakes throughout my life. I like to believe that I’ve learned something from each one of those mistakes and that those mistakes have improved me in some manner. Sometimes those improvements are clear, sometimes they are more gray, but I attempt to be honest with myself and push myself forward without any delusions of grandeur.

Conclusion

Don’t live your life without purpose. Define yourself and the things you are willing to stand up for. Don’t let your values be defined by someone else, because only you know who you are inside your heart. Once you’ve defined your values, live them out consistently everyday and stop trying to be someone you’re not. You will find tranquility, peace and self-confidence by trusting yourself through this process.

What are your core values? How do you define yourself to others?