As the Happiness Warrior, I believe that if we truly want to adapt to change and take charge of our lives, we need to examine our innermost thoughts and define the personal core values that make us who we are. Words have spirit and the words we tell ourselves and share with others tell our story shapes the perception of others. When we can begin to understand the incredible power of words both said and unsaid, we can begin to set our intention, feel our powers grow, and become our own warriors.

Developing a set of Core Values from which to live is a life-changing way to reinvent ourselves and develop a life-affirming mindset. Core Values are essential for moving forward and creating a happier and more fulfilling life, aligning us with our true purpose. Carefully thought out and deeply held Core Values provide us with a faithful compass to guide us on our journey through life.

Words can hurt us, they can lift us up, transform us, and change our destiny. When we believe in the power of words, we can use them to transform our lives in ways that we’ve never imaged. Words can be the entry into a renewed life-spirit filled with self-awareness, confidence, empathy, and greater happiness. Words have power and words are forever. What we say to someone today can have an effect many years later. Core values are words that shape our lives forever.

Most often the greatest barrier to improving our lives and living our dreams is the one we’ve constructed ourselves. We’re conditioned to feel harmed by shame and guilt and often use words of discouragement which cause us damage and keep us from moving forward. Almost without knowing it, we set ourselves up to avoid change, fear the unknown, fear failure, and avoid facing the truth.  We tell ourselves that we aren’t good enough, attractive enough, or smart enough to get what we want out of life. We can change this by recognizing the cause, forgiving ourselves for our past, and forging a renewed belief in our individual gifts and powers. When we can do this, we subconsciously develop the values that define how we move forward and take control of our lives. This helps us to redefine our purpose and embrace our true nature and authenticity. When we become united with our Core Values, we can experience life at its fullest, happiest, and most profound.

When I became The Happiness Warrior, I felt a strong need to re-examine and renew my Core Values to align my beliefs with my true purpose. Authenticity, personal truth, and making peace with who we are is everything we need to believe in ourselves and shed old destructive behaviors. Living intentionally and believing in a strong set of individual core values is the way to move forward in life with confidence and gratitude.

HAPPINESS WARRIOR CORE VALUES:

1. Take care of your body as if your life depends on it!

2. Consciously provide value in all actions.

3. Practice Self Awareness!

4. Have a “ready for anything mindset”.

5. Seek Clarity in all actions.

My core values are represented in every element of my life. They allow me to experience life without fear of shame or judgement. When we allow fear to enter our lives, our dreams are crushed, and happiness becomes an afterthought. As the novel Dune by Frank Herbert tells us: “fear is the mind killer”. We never know what it’s like on the other side until we can confront our fears and move forward. Happy people live in the “present” and accept life as it comes in all its beauty and imperfections.

AFFIRMATIONS ALIGN WITH CORE VALUES

Every morning upon awakening, I give myself an affirmation and say the same thing aloud “Good morning, Eric, it’s going to be a great day”. When I tell myself this simple affirmation, I know that I’m prepared for anything, and nothing can stop me from being my best. Core values and affirmations create a way to navigate through life based on our personal belief system and our vibration rises.

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR CORE VALUES

The most basic definition of Core Values is that they are a set of beliefs or opinions that influence how we live our lives. They are ideas that are important in understanding who we are and what we stand for. They are values that are important to us and characterize who we are us humans and the roles we play. Our values are crucial role in shaping how we respond to situations, making good choices, and setting our goals. Good values help us to realize our dreams and ambitions.

It’s easy for most of us to create our own Core Values when we learn to practice self-awareness and hear our truths. These steps can help you generate your own list:

* Write your values down and verbalize often.

* Consider people you most admire and how you would like them to perceive you.

* Categorize your values into related groups.

* Consider how you feel about your life at this moment. What would you like to change?

* Identify your central theme? For me it was embracing my warrior-like nature to serve the greater good. My life purpose is the beating heart of my core values.

* Choose your top Core Values and narrow them down to a group of 5 or less. These are your “essentials” and “non-negotiables” and will guide your actions going forward through life.

APPLYING CORE VALUES TO YOUR DAILY ACTIONS

The key to establishing Core Values and making them a part of our lives is through practice. The best way to increase the power of your morning affirmation is to create a healthy morning routine. I have my morning verbal affirmation followed by a fifteen-minute stretching and breathing session. This is both empowering and life-affirming.  (Note: It can take up to three weeks to establish a healthy habit)

1. Put your values where you can see them.

2. Share with family and friends and let them know who you are. Show up for life with a renewed sense of purpose and plan of action.

3. Choose the right people to be in your life. Core Values are a great tool to help us make good choices for friends and colleagues.

4. Assess your daily tasks each morning and have a plan for the day (the night before is even better!)

5. Integrate your Core Values into your regular conversations, workplans, and daily habits.

6. Every opportunity and choice should be scrutinized through the lens of your Core Values. Is this a good fit and will it help you move forward and be happy with yourself? When our values are in synch with our actions, we grow happier and create a life filled with purpose and gratitude.

7. Evaluate your day and give yourself some love just before going to bed.

This affirmation works for me every time and helps me sleep with a clear conscience. “I did my best today and will do better tomorrow?”

CORE VALUES HELP US FIND OUR PURPOSE

If our values reveal who we are, our Core Values keep us centered on life’s journey. They remind us of who we are when we face obstacles and keeping us focused on our goals. Core values inform our thoughts, decisions, and actions to guide us through life. They are essential in helping us find our true purpose, to become happier from within without external validation. Core values are an expression of who we are and our alignment with our moral, ethical, and empathetic selves.  Nothing defines us with more clarity and self-awareness than an unfailing belief in our personal core values. In an unforgiving world core values give us strength and show that we love who we are and embrace our authenticity!