From time to time, I need to check in with my values — to remind myself what truly matters and to see if I’m practicing what I believe.

I’ll admit, I don’t always live up to the standards I set for myself. When I drift away from those self-expectations, life tends not to flow as smoothly. None of us meet our values all the time — but our values should serve as guardrails for how we live and lead.

When Values Are Tested

Take kindness and compassion — both are part of my value system, and for the most part, I consider myself a kind and compassionate person.

But there are days when I have unkind thoughts, or even unkind actions. In the face of the world’s chaos — the cruelty, thoughtlessness, or carelessness that sometimes comes from others — I sometimes fail to live up to my values.

I try every day to be a good human, but I am not perfect. It’s easy to let moments of negativity or aggression shape our choices in ways that are not aligned with our values.

When that happens, I make choices that don’t reflect who I truly am. It doesn’t feel good — it can be frustrating and even disheartening.

It’s so easy to go astray and take the easier road. But if we do this often enough, something inside us begins to shift. Over time, that shift can change how we see ourselves.

Choosing the Harder Road

The harder road is choosing to be kind in the face of unkind moments.

This week, I decided to log these moments. When they happen, I’ll ask myself:

  • What did I do in response?
  • How did I feel during this interaction?

It will be interesting to see where and with whom these situations appear. The who doesn’t really matter — what matters is my response.

If I can choose kindness in those moments, I’ll be living out my truth. If I don’t, it’s likely because of a boundary issue, unresolved pain, or standing up for someone else. Either way, it’s a chance to learn and grow.

This might just be an interesting journey.

Reflection and Growth

Let’s check back next Sunday, shall we? In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on your own values.

Ask yourself:

  • What are my values?
  • Am I living in alignment with them?
  • Where am I falling short — and why?
  • What can I do to realign, internally and externally?

When we live from our higher selves, life meets us at that level.
If we don’t, the world will meet us exactly where we are.