For this assignment, you will complete an activity designed to help you create a Personal Values Statement for yourself. Complete the Personal Values ChecklistPersonal Values Checklist – Alternative Formats activity.
(Adapted from Checklist for Personal Values by C. Roberts, Fifth Discipline Fieldbook)
Values are qualities that are considered worthwhile. They are our highest priorities and deeply held beliefs and driving forces. Often our values are so deeply ingrained in our subconscious that we no longer recognize when our decisions are guided by values. Our values can help us make decisions that keep us on a chosen path in life.
When values are not clearly defined, we can be easily drawn in unhealthy directions. For example, if a person was raised in a family that highly valued sexual purity, but did not clearly define that value in him/herself, it will be very easy for that person to be led into a relationship that does not respect sexual purity. If a company does not define its values, it might be drawn into business decisions (such as utilizing sweat shops overseas to save money) that can eventually hurt the business.
Strongly held values can help us make relationship decisions. They assist us in choosing relationships that help us maintain our own values. For example, it could be difficult for someone who highly values healthy living to spend quite a bit of time with a couch potato addicted to potato chips and video games without eventually compromising his/her own values. However, we must be careful not to judge others with differing values. While we might respect the individual who highly values exercise and good nutrition, our couch potato who highly values enjoying relaxation, entertainment, fun and good food may deserve a measure of respect as well. Many Christian values are not clearly set forth for us, leaving us the freedom to decide for ourselves what value priorities best serve our walk with Christ. What we must be cautious of, in our relationships with others, is too quickly judging and rejecting those who do not share our personal Christian values.
I have a friend who is a vegetarian. This is a very strongly held value of hers. She proudly announces it on a bumper sticker; she talks about it in conversation and reads about it incessantly. She likes to share about her life-changing experience that led to this strong conviction. I, on the other hand, am about the furthest thing from a vegetarian. I was born and raised on a Midwest farm, love a nice, pink, juicy steak, and just simply try never to think about those poor chickens that live in small cages so that I can enjoy that great chicken fettuccini for supper. We hold very different values in this area, my friend and I, but because we respect each other’s values, we do not judge the other, or treat them poorly, because of our differing values.
On the other hand, I have an acquaintance who highly values homeschooling. She takes great pride in staying home with her children and educating them in her home. While I can respect these values and I respect her decision to do so, I myself take great pride in my career and feel strongly that my children will benefit from a public education and the social and educational opportunities it offers them. Notice that I did not state that this person was a friend of mine! This person chooses to try and “impose” her values on me when we are together and makes it very clear to me that my choices are “wrong” and hers are “right”. You can imagine how much I enjoy her company.
As people of Faith, we must define our values and use them to guide our decisions and our relationships without judging or imposing on others. We do this to live a value-filled, God-honoring life that furthers His kingdom. Without the “road map”, we are simply floating through life with no real direction, at risk for a severe detour from God’s plan for our lives at any moment.
Just as organizations almost always define a value or mission statement for themselves that assists them, and everyone involved with them, in clearly knowing who they are and where they are going, we too need to create a value statement of our own.
This activity is designed to help you define what your most important values are, in what ways you are currently staying true to those values and in what ways you are not, and you will develop a personal value statement that will assist you in the future with value-driven decisions. Once you have selected your 10 values, write 1-2 sentences for each one — and then finish with your Personal Values Statement. Your paper should be 1-2 pages in length.
Write your paper in Microsoft Word and format it according to APA standards. Please review the Guidelines for APA Style. Click on the Session 4 Journal Entry Personal Values Statement link to submit your assignment by the posted due date. Review the rubric available in Due Dates and Grades for specific grading criteria.For this assignment, you will complete an activity designed to help you create a Personal Values Statement for yourself. Complete the Personal Values Checklist
Personal Values Checklist – Alternative Formats activity.
(Adapted from Checklist for Personal Values by C. Roberts, Fifth Discipline Fieldbook)
Values are qualities that are considered worthwhile. They are our highest priorities and deeply held beliefs and driving forces. Often our values are so deeply ingrained in our subconscious that we no longer recognize when our decisions are guided by values. Our values can help us make decisions that keep us on a chosen path in life.
When values are not clearly defined, we can be easily drawn in unhealthy directions. For example, if a person was raised in a family that highly valued sexual purity, but did not clearly define that value in him/herself, it will be very easy for that person to be led into a relationship that does not respect sexual purity. If a company does not define its values, it might be drawn into business decisions (such as utilizing sweat shops overseas to save money) that can eventually hurt the business.
Strongly held values can help us make relationship decisions. They assist us in choosing relationships that help us maintain our own values. For example, it could be difficult for someone who highly values healthy living to spend quite a bit of time with a couch potato addicted to potato chips and video games without eventually compromising his/her own values. However, we must be careful not to judge others with differing values. While we might respect the individual who highly values exercise and good nutrition, our couch potato who highly values enjoying relaxation, entertainment, fun and good food may deserve a measure of respect as well. Many Christian values are not clearly set forth for us, leaving us the freedom to decide for ourselves what value priorities best serve our walk with Christ. What we must be cautious of, in our relationships with others, is too quickly judging and rejecting those who do not share our personal Christian values.
I have a friend who is a vegetarian. This is a very strongly held value of hers. She proudly announces it on a bumper sticker; she talks about it in conversation and reads about it incessantly. She likes to share about her life-changing experience that led to this strong conviction. I, on the other hand, am about the furthest thing from a vegetarian. I was born and raised on a Midwest farm, love a nice, pink, juicy steak, and just simply try never to think about those poor chickens that live in small cages so that I can enjoy that great chicken fettuccini for supper. We hold very different values in this area, my friend and I, but because we respect each other’s values, we do not judge the other, or treat them poorly, because of our differing values.
On the other hand, I have an acquaintance who highly values homeschooling. She takes great pride in staying home with her children and educating them in her home. While I can respect these values and I respect her decision to do so, I myself take great pride in my career and feel strongly that my children will benefit from a public education and the social and educational opportunities it offers them. Notice that I did not state that this person was a friend of mine! This person chooses to try and “impose” her values on me when we are together and makes it very clear to me that my choices are “wrong” and hers are “right”. You can imagine how much I enjoy her company.
As people of Faith, we must define our values and use them to guide our decisions and our relationships without judging or imposing on others. We do this to live a value-filled, God-honoring life that furthers His kingdom. Without the “road map”, we are simply floating through life with no real direction, at risk for a severe detour from God’s plan for our lives at any moment.
Just as organizations almost always define a value or mission statement for themselves that assists them, and everyone involved with them, in clearly knowing who they are and where they are going, we too need to create a value statement of our own.
This activity is designed to help you define what your most important values are, in what ways you are currently staying true to those values and in what ways you are not, and you will develop a personal value statement that will assist you in the future with value-driven decisions. Once you have selected your 10 values, write 1-2 sentences for each one — and then finish with your Personal Values Statement. Your paper should be 1-2 pages in length.
Write your paper in Microsoft Word and format it according to APA standards. Please review the Guidelines for APA Style. Click on the Session 4 Journal Entry Personal Values Statement link to submit your assignment by the posted due date. Review the rubric available in Due Dates and Grades for specific grading criteria.
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