What Do YOU Value?
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what I value in my life. Maria Moratto, author of the article "Know Your Values," defines values as "the beliefs that motivate us to do things and pursue happiness." Isn't that what it's all about? Often in our work, particularly in the entertainment industry, there seems to be an intense focus on what's next. It's an obsessive race to achieve that next goal, produce that next project or promote that next show.
Let's examine this mentality. I do believe there is an absolute joy in working hard doing what you love and reaping the fruits of your labor. When we're in this space we feel like productive members of society and we're connected to our bliss. But there is a fine line between living your dream and preparing to live your dream. I believe that's where we can get stuck. I know first-hand when I find myself comparing my life to the lives of others, or to some undefinable & therefore unobtainable goal, I feel stuck, frustrated and unhappy. I'm so focused on the "image" of what I desire, I fail to notice the beauty that is the result of a lifetime of choices. Choices that I made on the road to happiness and fulfillment.
Aye, but that road has been under our feet all this time!!
As Mikey Walsh stated in the classic 80's adventure film "Goonies,"
"Up there. It's there time. It's THERE time up there. But down here it's our time. It's OUR time down here! That's all over the second you ride up Troy's bucket."
Our life is the search for One-Eyed Willy's booty. As artists, adventurers, actors, writers, musicians, engineers, teachers, programmers, <(insert your passion here) and lovers of life, we forge our own path to happiness. We reject the ease of escape offered by "Troy's Bucket" in favor of the quest for treasure and the good times we'll have with our rag tag group of misfits along the way.
So what am I motivated by in my life? Which values are the foundation for how I seek* to live my life?
(*seek=moving towards, with fumbles along the way :-))
Here's my Top Ten and how I define them:
LOVE:: The expression of the love within through all it's beautiful interpretations. The act of sharing love completely and without reserve with others.
CREATIVITY:: Producing works of artistic merit that communicate a unique and/or relatable thought, feeling, or essence of the human experience.
COURAGE:: Ability to stand in the face of fear and discouragement and act anyway.
FULFILLMENT:: A sense of inner-peace and contentment in life.
ENTHUSIASM:: Energy and present moment awareness. Dedication to the task at hand with joi de vive!!! (and over use of the exclamation point!)
ACCEPTANCE:: Toward others and self. A continual growth in capacity of understanding and love both before and after judgement.
INTELLIGENCE:: The quest for knowledge and education. A perserverence towards depth of understanding,
GIVING:: A generosity of spirit and a sense of abundance with self and others.
BEAUTY:: Commitment to recognizing aesthetic pleasure in self and others. A radiation of spirit.
AMBITION:: Enthusiasm and commitment for achieving the goals one sets.
So what do YOU value??
PS Thanks to Dallas Travers for turning me on to this article!