True Self

About a year ago I wrote an article on Core Values and it seems it is that time again. I don't have the grid of words I used as a tool before, but I am still trying to find that same truth, my core values. I'm not looking back to see what has changed, I am just trying to see where I truly am and where I want to be. Understanding my core values, an exercise I am doing with my accountability, is just a method to focus.

So, what are core values? These are those things that you are, that when you do them well you feel valuable and when you don't do them well you feel diminished. They are not narrow or frequently changing. Sometime these are the words you would want people to describe you. The words you would want to describe yourself with and not feel like a hypocrite. They are more you than nearly anything else.

The goal for me was to write five of these value, the idea being I could easier make goals that are good goals, goals that would have real meaning to me, not just goals to be made because someone else thinks I would be growing in that way. So, what are mine?

Family oriented - That I am working in the best interest of my family, toward the successful maturing of my children, so that they are valuable members of society and the continued deepening of the relationship I have with my wife.

Godly - That I am continuing to grow in my relationship with God, that I am sensitive to the ministries he assigns my to and obedient to his spirit. This includes being in the Bible and praying daily. I want to recognize, at a heart level, the blessings which God has given me, then share those blessing out to those around me.

True Friend - I want to have an ever deeper relationship with the friends I have. I want to not just be enjoyable to be around, but gracious and trustworthy, honest and faithful. I want to be the kind of friend that is thought of and sought in times of need and I want to learn to reach out to other in my times of need. I want my friendships to all have a component of iron sharpening iron.

Problem Solver - I want to be a person who solves problem. I don't want to be someone who is creating additional work or issues, rather I want to be viewed as a solution maker. This should be in the workplace, from both those who report to me and to my boss. It should be in the home, no matter if the problem is financial, temporal, rational or emotional. It should be with my friends, if it is in their homes, with our schedule, with some tension. I was to be trusted and capable to resolve problems.

Creator- I want to be someone who continually creates things. This can be meals, or stories, woodworking or experiences. I want to create things for my friends, for family, for God. I want to be able to look back on my days and weeks and see the things I have created. I want to look at the things in front of me as opportunities to create something. I want to fully embrace the get out of the chair, off the couch attitude of being first a creator. Consumption without creation seems a waste to me.

So, these are mine. What are yours?