1 Big Idea for a Happier You
Here is one big idea for a happier you:
Integrity
Ok, sounds like a big concept, right? No, it’s really quite simple. Integrity means:
Aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions with your values.
Don’t know your values? Here’s an easy way to identify them:
Any time you don’t feel good about a thought, feeling, or action, it’s a clue that you’re out of step with your integrity.
For example, say one of your values is patience. You have an elderly parent with dementia, and most of the time you are able to answer the same question over and over with understanding and kindness. But once in awhile, it’s just one time too many and you get annoyed and snap at them. Then you feel guilty. The bad feeling, guilt in this case, is the measure of being out of step with your values. Pay attention to your feelings, and use them as clues to uncover the underlying values you may be out of step with.
What are some examples of values?
- Practicing kindness
- Being open-minded
- Having patience
- Treating others with respect
- Applying gratitude to everything
- Assuming the best rather than the worst of others
- Minding your own business (corollary = no gossiping)
- Taking care of yourself as the foundation for taking care of others
- Taking responsibility for your life (corollary = allowing others to do the same)
Each of us has a unique set of values. If you haven’t already, articulating your values could be fun!
I know for me, it was the foundation for feeling better about me and about the world. Defining my values began with identifying what I didn’t want or like in my life. I didn’t want arguments. I didn’t want to take responsibility for others. I didn’t want conflict in my relationships. I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable with my reactions to people. And that helped me begin to clarify the principles I wanted to live by.
If you need a little head start, try organizing your values by these categories:
- Personal – how you want to guide your thoughts, feelings, and actions
- Social – the principles that guide your relationships with others
- Political – how you interact with society as a whole
- Economic – your beliefs about money
- Religious – your spiritual values
I’d love to hear an example of how you align your thoughts, feelings, and actions with your values and how it helps you stay centered and feeling good about who you are.
Photo by Josh Eckstein oUnsplash
