On Values and Inner Peace.
Many people go through life without a thought of their values and priorities. They just float through life, not realizing where they’re going and what they’re doing. But these people end up regretting things later in life, usually when it’s “too late”. And they never find inner peace.
I believe that a good portion of the journey to inner peace is living life in accordance to your core values - the song in your heart.
I wrote a journal entry that I titled “Valise of Values” early last year. What I didn’t do at the time was actually follow it. In my mind, I had an idea of what my values were. But the decisions I was making did not align with them. I was allowing the opinions and idle chatter of outside forces (people/society/media) influence my decisions, priorities and actions, even if it went against what I knew was true. This made me subconsciously uncomfortable, though I ignored it. And I kept side-tracking until I felt existentially lost. It took a few years, but that’s where I ended up - in December/early January.
In January, I realized I had to face what I had been ignoring. (The how-I-got-there is a just a silly side story.) I prayed and meditated and wrote the list down. I stuck it up where I’m reminded of it almost every day. Once I did that and put my life in perspective of my values, everything became ‘right’. And for the things that weren't right, I have a map of sorts that can guide me to get it back on track.
“Do what you feel is best,” my very good friend told me mid-March as my world fell apart. Had the events occurred before I definitized my values and their priorities so clearly, I probably wouldn't have been able to trust my instincts and feelings to make decisions. I'd like to think that I would've figured it out, but this way was so much easier!
In this regard, I feel like my life is choreographed somehow. I'm subconsciously being directed by an awesome choreographer who's leading me through this beautiful dance. And I wouldn't change a single step I've made, even if I had the chance to do this gig of life again.
Yep. God certainly moves in mysterious ways.
Originally written April 3, 2010.
I believe that a good portion of the journey to inner peace is living life in accordance to your core values - the song in your heart.
I wrote a journal entry that I titled “Valise of Values” early last year. What I didn’t do at the time was actually follow it. In my mind, I had an idea of what my values were. But the decisions I was making did not align with them. I was allowing the opinions and idle chatter of outside forces (people/society/media) influence my decisions, priorities and actions, even if it went against what I knew was true. This made me subconsciously uncomfortable, though I ignored it. And I kept side-tracking until I felt existentially lost. It took a few years, but that’s where I ended up - in December/early January.
In January, I realized I had to face what I had been ignoring. (The how-I-got-there is a just a silly side story.) I prayed and meditated and wrote the list down. I stuck it up where I’m reminded of it almost every day. Once I did that and put my life in perspective of my values, everything became ‘right’. And for the things that weren't right, I have a map of sorts that can guide me to get it back on track.
“Do what you feel is best,” my very good friend told me mid-March as my world fell apart. Had the events occurred before I definitized my values and their priorities so clearly, I probably wouldn't have been able to trust my instincts and feelings to make decisions. I'd like to think that I would've figured it out, but this way was so much easier!
In this regard, I feel like my life is choreographed somehow. I'm subconsciously being directed by an awesome choreographer who's leading me through this beautiful dance. And I wouldn't change a single step I've made, even if I had the chance to do this gig of life again.
Yep. God certainly moves in mysterious ways.
Originally written April 3, 2010.