So What Are My Core Values?

In this post I want to explore what my core values might be, by answering some of the questions I mentioned in the last post.

What priorities make me turn down other highly attractive offers because I know what is indispensable for me?
- It’s important to me to live a fairly simple life, without a lot of stuff I don’t need or want.
- I believe in following my heart and not just “what makes sense” or “what everyone else does.”
- My family is very important to me and what's best for them will always be a huge priority for me.

What is unusual about me?
Hmm… everything? Those of you who know me might agree with that, and that’s okay with me. Actually, I think that’s one of the unusual things about me; I want to be different. I like being unusual. For me, nothing would be more boring or artificial than to be just like everyone else. At times this tends to come out as a rebellious nature; if someone says it can’t be done (or shouldn’t be done) I just may be first in line to defend it and do it. I question the status quo on pretty much everything.

Another thing that people seem to think is unusual about me is my ability to empathize and to see how a situation looks through another person’s eyes. It comes naturally, so to me it doesn’t seem that unusual; I have realized that it may be unusual through the years as I’ve irritated countless people by playing “devil’s advocate” and trying to understand or defend a different perspective. It’s something that I cannot turn off.

There are some other things, but I think I'll keep them to myself for now. Don't want to scare anyone off. ;)


What really angers me?
In the book, Craig Groeschel specifically asks, “What stirs righteous anger inside you? What makes you mad on God’s behalf? What offends your sense of justice and morality?” I get angry when I think about all the people in our country, in our world- in our city!- who are suffering, hungry, homeless, struggling… while at the same time, there are people everywhere, Christians everywhere, who have more than they need but are keeping it for themselves. And it bothers me deeply when this doesn’t anger others. I’m sure there are other things, but that’s the big one that I can think of.


What brings me bliss?
Doing what I can to help others, seeing people who are in need being helped by those who have the means to do it, putting value in people instead of things, getting to know people and develop relationships with them.

I think a few of my core values may be: compassion, mercy, encouragement, empathy, love, grace, generosity, serving, community, and relationships.