What I Have Learned for Sure

Understanding My Values

During my master’s program in psychology of leadership development, one of the most important questions I encountered was, “What do I value?” This question prompted me to reflect deeply on what truly matters to me and how my values influence my actions and decisions. It became clear that understanding my values is foundational to personal growth and effective leadership.

The VIA Assessment Experience

As part of my coursework, I completed the VIA (Values in Action) assessment. While I do not consider this assessment to be the definitive tool for identifying all of one’s values, I found it to be an excellent starting point. The assessment provided valuable insights into how different situations affected me emotionally and helped clarify which values resonated most strongly in my life. Through this process, I gained a better understanding of how my values operate and influence my everyday experiences.

Gaining Personal Insight

The insights I gained from the VIA assessment allowed me to better comprehend my reactions in various scenarios. By recognizing the connection between my values and my feelings, I was able to reflect on the ways my values show up in both everyday life and leadership situations. I realized the importance of being intentional about pausing and being present in the moment. By acknowledging my feelings—regardless of what they were—I could recognize the underlying reasons related to my core values and honor those values with conscious action.

Honoring My Values

I also learned that when I do not honor my values, I experience feelings of anger, frustration, and even resentment. This sense of having betrayed myself manifests as a general discomfort. Learning how to course-correct and restore balance sometimes required taking difficult actions or engaging in challenging conversations. For example, I recognize that I deeply value integrity. If I ignore a gut feeling and say yes to something I do not truly want to do—whatever the reason—and then proceed reluctantly, I end up feeling bad. This discomfort might even show up as me not bringing my whole self to the situation. In such cases, I have not only betrayed myself but also the other party involved. I discovered the importance of pausing, listening to my feelings, and responding with integrity.

Encouragement and Reflection

Reflecting on my values prompted me to ask important questions: What do you value? Is it love, beauty, hope, honesty? If you have ever wondered how what you value shows up in your life, I encourage you to take the VIA assessment. The initial assessment is free, and a more detailed evaluation is available for a fee. I have included the link below for your reference. While the VIA assessment is not the only source for exploring your values, it is a solid starting point and is backed by sound research.

Final Thoughts

Let me know if you experience any “aha” moments during your reflections. Strive to be the best version of yourself—life is so much sweeter that way!

Ylonda

https://www.viacharacter.org/