Personal Growth, Loyalty, Determination. These are only three of the several values I hold dearly in my life that have shaped me into the leader I am today, but I’ve found that these tend to be a lot of people’s common values. If you had asked the same question five years ago, these values would have been completely different, and I am sure if you ask in another five years, they will have changed again.
This semester, I’ve had the opportunity to take an Introduction to Leadership Studies as part of fulfilling my minor in Leadership. One of our major discussions was about values and priorities and if they align all the time. The answer is they don’t. Every day you’re going to face the challenge of prioritizing your values differently. One day, you might value family at the top of the list, but other days, you may have to value determination and success over others. Whatever you choose to value in your life will shape you as a person and especially as a leader in everyday life. Your values will influence the people you associate with, the organizations you become a part of and the places you choose to venture to.
Throughout life, everyone will have personally grown whether they like it or not. Personal growth is such an important trait to have and value because the world is always changing. The only thing constant in the world is change. By knowing more about yourself as person and what your strengths and weaknesses are, you’ll be able to embrace change, societies’ differences and keep a positive attitude and eventually become the person you always wanted to be. It will also get uncomfortable. It will force you into places you’ve never been, force you to interact with people you’ve never met and then become accustomed to everything new. But as you grow as a person, you will find those support systems you need to succeed and it will take you far.
This leads into the next value of loyalty. Friends that are loyal and have your back are the people to always keep in your life. It is also important to stay loyal to them as well because it is a two-way street. Same goes with relationships. Personally, I have always wanted to be with someone who was going to be loyal to me and I always want to be loyal to them because it makes the relationship and bond that much stronger. With loyalty comes so many other things too, such as trust, respect, and happiness. Loyalty can also come into play with family just like relationships and friendships. Making sure you have their backs and never turning on them is huge and always forgive them when it’s necessary.
Last but not least, another important value in life is determination. Every single person on this earth should be striving to be the best they can be. Ultimately, you as an individual should be aiming to live a life where you’re doing what you love and loving what you do. Your determination is what drives your motivation for success and you should be willing to do all you can to get to where you want to be in life. If you’re not shooting for the stars or saying “the sky’s the limit,” then you’re doing it wrong.
Of course, everyone’s values are different and some are more important than others but overall, values are so important to cherish. And always remember, “If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t be upset about it for more than 5 minutes.” This will keep you grounded and make sure your values are prioritized. It is so easy to get lost in this materialistic world, but remember what’s important deep down and you will create a better you and a life worth living.
