Living from Deep Roots

Do you ever find yourself bored, bugged, on the edge of burnout or just in a comfortable rut? I sure do! What is this all about? Maybe we are living our lives outside of what we truly value.

Living according to our values brings fulfillment, satisfaction and good fruit. Living outside of our values causes a sense of disharmony and discontent. If your life and work aren’t aligned with your values, you may be getting results, but you are unlikely to be thriving or experiencing full satisfaction. It is vital to understand our values in order to align our actions with them.

Think of your life as a tree, your roots are your values, the qualities of who you are and who you want to be. Your branches and the fruit they bear are your habits or actions that reflect your deep values. What do your good habits and actions say about your values, your quality of being?
I asked myself this question and this is what I found. I make my bed every day – I value order. I exercise often and try to eat right (step away from the brownies, Cindy!) – I value health. I plant flowers and love to watch them grow – I value beauty. Take a thoughtful moment to ask yourself this question. Write down what you discover. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Try this. Think about the music you listen to regularly, and consider the values this music represents. This can be an eye opener (or ear opener, as it may be). Listen again to some of your favorite songs, paying special attention to the lyrics. Describe which values the songs seem to promote.

Some of my favorite music is country western. The rhythms and the lyrics speak to my soul. Songs like, “I Believe” by Brooks and Dunn, “Livin’ Our Love Song” by Michael Jason Carrol and “I Want to Live” by Josh Gracin, bring tears to my eyes and a thrill to my heart. The values expressed in these songs are; life in Gods word, committed relationships and passion for an authentic life. I guess the reason they touch me so, is that these are some of my values too.

How can I align my actions with these values? I can spend time daily soaking up the Word of God. I can continue to pursue a growing, loving relationship with my husband of 25 years. I can make choices to live passionately and authentically, true to my values, taking appropriate risks to that end. What will you do to align your actions with the values you are discovering?

This may be the beginning of finding your deep roots. Maybe you are just beginning to think about changing some habits and determining actions that align with your values so that your life is more fulfilling and satisfying, bearing good fruit. I encourage you in your discovery and would be happy to assist you. Write to me at Coach_Cindy@hotmail.com and we will schedule a ½ hour complimentary coaching session around values.

Remember the analogy of the tree I mentioned earlier? I leave you with Jeremiah 17:7, 8,

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Sincerely,
Cindy