A personal value system is a set of principles or
ideals that drive and/or guide your behavior.
Your personal value system gives you structure
and purpose by helping you determine what is
meaningful and important to you.
It helps you express who you are and what you
stand for. If you are unaware of, or become
disconnected with your values, you end up
making choices out of impulse or instant
gratification rather than on solid reasoning
and responsible decision-making. Your values
define your character .
They impact every aspect of your life including
personal and work behaviors, your interactions
with family, friends and co-workers; your
decision-making processes and the direction
you take in life. This is why it is so important
to know what you value and what is
important to you.
Four Categories of a Personal Value System
Personal Values - Personal values are those traits
we see as worth aspiring to, and that define our
character.
Spiritual Values - The values that connect us to
a higher power and give us a sense of purpose
beyond our material existence.
Family Values - To love and care for those we
are close to; our children, our parents, other family
members, and our friends.
Career Values - The best use and expression of
our talents and skills for the purposes of contributing
to society and for monetary compensation.
Which values do we as social beings find
desirable?
No matter what tradition we are brought up in, there
are characteristics we value in others which transcend
social, economic and religious boundaries. Some of
these characteristics are:
Integrity
Integrity is trustworthiness, honesty and uprightness
of character. We value people of integrity because we
know what to expect from them. We know they will act
honorably and that they will do what they think is right.
We want people with integrity as our friends, on our
teams and in our organizations.
Respect
Respect is honoring the worth and dignity of all
people. Those who respect others treat them with
fairness and courtesy. They treat others the way
they themselves wish to be treated.
Loyalty
Loyalty is a commitment and faithfulness to a
person or cause. Those who are loyal to their
family, friends, organizations and country stand
behind and support them during good times and
bad times. They can be counted on to be there
when the going gets difficult and to help out
when the chips are down.
Responsibility
Those who accept responsibility are reliable,
dependable and willing to take accountability
for who they are and what they do. They believe
they have a moral obligation to help others
and to make a contribution to the society
they live in.
No matter what values we choose live by, it
is vital that we look at the big picture, assess
what we want our role to be, and map out
how we intend to conduct our lives.
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