Humans have long divided the world into good and bad, right and wrong. This has its merits. It helps societies coalesce around shared principles, and it makes clear that some things, like murder, are unacceptable.
But between the things nearly everyone calls good and the things nearly everyone calls bad, there is a rich world of gray. What is good from my perspective might be bad from yours, or both, or neither. It might simply be a preference.
Just as each society coalesces around its own unique cultural values, each of us as an individual is guided by unique, personal values. These personal values define what we prioritize and seek in life. They give shape to the world we want to create. One might value collaboration, while another might value competition. One might value peace, while another might value challenge or creative tension. One might value gentleness, while another might value ferocity.
Our personal values are simply whatever we yearn to cultivate within ourselves and our world.
If passion is our fuel and talent is our vehicle, values are the compass. They determine where that energy flows, to what end. With our core values clearly articulated, we can much more easily find our way back to our true north. We can help ensure our work is deployed in service to something truly meaningful to us.
This is an excerpt from my upcoming book The Antihero’s Journey: From Burnout to Real Contribution in Polycrisis Times. To read other excerpts, go here.
