Why Having Values Is Important

Values matter because we will not be on this planet for an infinite number of years. Human beings live and die, just like any other animal on the planet, and if we do not have a consistent set of values to guide our life, then we will just drift.

Every day time slips away, and once a day is done, it is gone forever. So having values shapes our lives, otherwise we are just waiting to die. But how do we know what values are best for us?
Well, some of us like to be in good physical condition. That is a common value set for many people. Others like to make a certain income. And some people like to help the people around them be the best that they can be.

It is having this richness of experience that values bring, this ‘tailor made’ aspect to our life, which makes the whole value defining process so vital to our self development. Of course, you could live without values, but it is arguable that anyone who does is essentially living a shapeless, aimless life.

If time is limited, and days, once experienced, are lost, then how we use that time is also under threat if values are not clear. If we do not know ‘how we live our life’, the practises we follow and the principles we hold, then all we can ever be is distracted. Our lives will become disorganised and cluttered. We will put on weight, be subject to illness, and so on.

All this is great news for those who are trying to live a life that is more aware, but what happens when we look carefully at our lives and realise that we have many values, many areas in which we need to develop?

It is common for people to feel overwhelmed. They have to understand and follow value sets attached to their health, their finances, their relationships, the list can be huge. And because they know that a life without values is meaningless, they begin to panic, become disillusioned, and feel that the job of fostering values is ‘impossible’. There is so much to take care of, it seems daunting.

Remember that values are about interacting with life. While you may want to be financially abundant, your value in this area may require you to be patient, while the resources the world offers you come into alignment. Similarly, valuing peak physical fitness requires work and commitment.

Having values is important because otherwise you are literally unguided, and could spend your life achieving nothing, experiencing nothing unique, and, ultimately, just waiting to die.