On a hot Texas day on my walk across the country, I was on the phone with one of my best friends. I was telling him how I had some folks telling me that I should be walking on routes different than mine. “You should’ve taken more scenic roads!”, “Walk on hiking trails!”, “I would’ve gone further north…” and more are things I’d been told.
That was when my buddy asked “Well, how do you feel about your route?” “Great, honestly.” I said right away. “The hard thing is that they’re not really wrong, you know? All of those ways would still get me to where I wanted to go. So I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something.” I told him.
“Well, man, it sounds like if you had listened to them you’d be going the right direction, but on the wrong road to get there.”
Identifying your personal values is essential when pursuing a big goal. Values act as your internal compass, guiding your decisions and ensuring your actions align with what truly matters to you. When your goals are in harmony with your values, you’re more likely to feel motivated and fulfilled. On the other hand, if your goals conflict with your values, you might experience frustration or doubt, even if you achieve outward success.
Understanding your values helps you stay on the right path. By regularly checking whether your actions align with your values, you can adjust your approach as needed, preventing burnout or regret. In essence, grounding your goals in your values ensures that your journey is not only successful but also personally meaningful and satisfying.