Understanding and Identifying Personal Values: A Journey Inspired by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

Values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide our behavior, decisions, and judgments. They represent what is most important to us, and they influence our actions, relationships, and overall worldview. Values can encompass a wide range of concepts, including ethical beliefs, personal priorities, and cultural norms.

Common Types of Values

There are several types of values that can be categorized based on different contexts. These include:

Personal Values: These are individual beliefs such as honesty, integrity, and loyalty. They are deeply rooted in personal convictions and character. Cultural Values: Shared beliefs within a community or society such as respect for tradition or community. They influence social norms and collective behaviors. Professional Values: Principles that guide behavior in a work environment like teamwork, accountability, and innovation. They are essential for professional success and ethical conduct.

How to Identify Your Values

Identifying your values can be a reflective process. Here are some steps to help you uncover what matters most to you:

Reflect on Experiences

Think about times when you felt fulfilled or proud. What values were being honored in those moments? This can provide insights into your core values. For example, if you feel proud when you help someone in need, the value of compassion or helpfulness might be important to you.

Consider Role Models

Identify people you admire and consider what values they embody that resonate with you. Their actions and beliefs can serve as a guide in your own life. If a mentor is virtuous, integrity and honesty are likely values that you hold in high regard.

List Your Values

Write down a list of values that you believe are important. You might start with a broad list and then narrow it down to your core values. For example, you might initially list honesty, integrity, loyalty, compassion, and fairness before determining which are most important.

Prioritize Your Values

Once you have a list, rank them in order of importance. This can help you understand which values are non-negotiable for you. For instance, you might find that integrity and honesty are always at the top of your list.

Assess Your Life Choices

Look at your current lifestyle, relationships, and career. Do they align with your identified values? If not, consider what changes you might need to make. For example, if you value work-life balance but find yourself working long hours, you might need to reassess your priorities.

Seek Feedback

Sometimes discussing your values with trusted friends or family can provide new insights and help clarify your own beliefs. Getting an outside perspective can be valuable in refining your understanding of your values.

Revisit Regularly

Values can evolve over time as you grow and experience new things. It is beneficial to periodically reassess what is important to you. For example, as you gain more experience in your career, your values related to work may shift.

A Historical Perspective: The Five Universal Values

I had some help from some of those long-dead old white guys. That was particularly from three fellows who lived about 2500 years ago: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. They told us over two millennia ago that all earthly values derive directly or indirectly from five universal and transcendent values: Truth, Good, Beauty, Justice, and Love.

These values have stood the test of time and are still relevant today. Anything that doesn’t come from some combination of these five values is not truly a value. You just mistakenly think it is one. There are no other ultimate values except for life itself. But “Life” is just the precondition for values. After all, dead people have no values. This principle remains a fundamental concept in ethics and philosophy.

C'est la vie.

Conclusion

Understanding and identifying your values can lead to greater self-awareness, improved decision-making, and a more fulfilling life aligned with what truly matters to you. By reflecting on your experiences, considering role models, listing your values, prioritizing them, assessing your life choices, seeking feedback, and revisiting your values regularly, you can develop a deeper understanding of your core beliefs and live a more meaningful life.