I have found myself over the years with a dwindling enthusiasm for goal setting.

Not necessarily because I wasn't achieving my goals. But because they were feeling empty.

It was feeling something like an assembly line process. Create a goal achieve it and say next.

While I'm sure my goals have added to my life, some of them setting the foundation over the years, something was missing.

And as they say, when the student is ready…

Almost the day I decided that it was inner value clarification and focus that I was looking for instead of goal setting I arrived upon that very section in Anthony Robbins – Awaken the Giant Within. If you've been reading this blog, you know that I spend some time most mornings studying, his book has been the book I'm working through.

It really helped to clarify and validate my thoughts and the exercise he had us do helped me to do just what I had set out to do – clarify my inner values and create an at a glance focus plan for 2009.

My motto for 2009 is – 2009 is Mine.

I realize now that I spent a good part of the past year being sidetracked but also clearing the way to do what I would like this year. 

SO WHAT ABOUT GOALS AND VALUES? 

At first I had problems clarifying exactly what I was trying to get at. What IS the difference between goals and values?

GOALS: Goals are external. That's why goals are often empty or leave us looking for more after we've accomplished them – unless they are attached and congruent to our values. Goals are things, actions are things that we would like to achieve or do during our lifetimes.

VALUES: Values are internal. Things to BE. Qualities to have within ourselves. Values are US. They are the base from which you will achieve your life's calling. They give our existence meaning. 

"Every time a value is born, existence takes on new meaning: every time one dies some part of that meaning passes away." Joseph Wood Krutch 

Values form the framework of our life. If all you ever do is to achieve and live by our values you will be happy.

Ignoring or surrendering our values is one of life's biggest sources of pain, disappointment and self sabotage.  

VALUES ARE US – HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOURSELF? 

Surprisingly, most of us don't actively work on identifying and internalizing our values.

Part of the reason is that since they are such a part of us, we assume that we don't have to. I thought so as well until I actually sat down and worked with them.

Non of them were particularly shocking or new, but by writing them down and prioritizing them, I had a perfect road map for living my life right in front of me on an index card.

It doesn't get any better than that!

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST

Identifying and living by our own values can allow us to create an amazing life. One that we can be proud of every day, from this day until our last.

The truly amazing thing is if you look at it big picture. As we've seen many times, on a global level, goals with no values – or misguided values – values with no thought – can be catastrophic.

You will see the very same effect on a personal level.

Individual values have the great potential to lift the world.

Values fed people. They are contagious. Good or bad.

Many times people act in ways that are contrary to their own values because they haven't taken the time to identify them, to make them concrete, to make them real.

As human beings, that is our gift. To transform our wishes into reality.

Values could be considered our wish for ourselves. And for all of the world.

ACTION TIP 

If you want to set a goal this year, set a goal to examine, prioritize and live your values.

Change the world, one value at a time.

Watch for my eye opening experience with discovering and working with my own values, coming up!