If You're Happy and You Know it…
December 22, 2009 by Julie
Filed under Life Balance
As coaches, when we begin working with a client, the very first thing we do before we organize their office or look at creating a schedule or set goals for their business is determine their core values. Many of my clients tell me it's the greatest experience they get from coaching, hands down. That's because once you define and know your core values, you can use them to create your life in a more positive way. You'll begin to notice that when you're really feeling great, you're honoring your core values and, conversely, when you're having a challenging time, your values are being compromised. Once you begin to understand that, you can take action to line back up with your values and start feeling better.
Try this simple exercise to define your values:
- Think of the best time in your life, when you were on the top of your game and everything was working. Now think of 5 adjectives that describe you during that time. Write them down.
- Now think of one of the worst times in your life, a time when you were at rock bottom. List 5 adjectives that describe the aspects of your personality that were being compromised during that time. Write them down.
You'll probably notice that the two lists have at least a few (if not all 5) words in common. That's because the values that are the most present during the best times in our lives are also those who's absence is most keenly felt during the worst times in our lives. That's how you know those values are core values. You need them to feel fulfilled and happy.
Now make a list of the core values you came up with and begin to ask yourself how well you're living out of them on a daily basis. It sounds so simple and it works amazingly well. I have clients who haven't coached with me in over five years who e-mail and tell me they're still using the core values we identified through our coaching experience.
I have to make a shameless plug here at the end of this post for our coaching services. I have a group of amazing coaches who work for me. If you want to learn more about them and what coaching is, check them out here.
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Julie Anne Jones is a success language consultant, a direct sales coach and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, visit her at www.julieannejones.com or check out her blog athttp://julieannejones.com.
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