EMPOWERING VALUES: Useful Definitions

1. VALUES are learned beliefs about what we consider to be important or valuable in our lives.  Judgmental values that dictate what we consider to be right or wrong, good or bad, are called moral values.  Values are learned in the process of socialization.  When values are shared by a society, they become norms, which are spoken or unspoken expectations of behavior. If our behaviors do not support our deepest needs and desires, if those behaviors infringe upon other things that are important to us, we experience internal conflict or unhappiness.

2. We each have a unique hierarchy of Values or priorities.  The way we rank order our Values are evident in our behaviors, not necessarily what we say or claim.

3. One set of Values is not any better another set.  However, a particular Value is either empowering to move our lives forward or dis-empowering to block us from realizing our Dreams.  Dis-empowering Values are prevalent in all cultures.  Examples of potentially disempowering values are:  “Hiya”, “utang na loob”, “bahala na”, “pa-porma”, etc.

4.The following Values, on the other hand, EMPOWER us to produce positive material results,  as well as create satisfaction and aliveness:

a. EXCELLENCE.  Our standards of excellence are learned through cultural programming or socialization.  When we discover our true spiritual identity, we become aware of Excellence as our highest potential, i.e., the quality that God wants us to fully express in the world in everything that we do.

Thus, we strive to continually transcend our cultural norm of “puede na.”  In business, Quality Excellence is defined as conformance to customer specifications. Because of the increasing global nature of business, competition sometimes forces us to elevate our standards to “World-Class”.

b. INTEGRITY means “wholeness” or completeness.  Therefore, when we are dishonest as well as when we break our word or promise with ourselves and others, we are less than Whole.  In short, we are said to be “out of integrity.”  To restore our Wholeness or Integrity requires that we first put aside our EGO by acknowledging that we have indeed broken our word.  Credibility or trust is the inevitable result when we keep our word or promise which is especially critical when dealing with our customers.

c. SELF-RELIANCE means knowing that we can depend totally on our Higher Self (the God Presence Within) to give us guidance and direction as well as the courage and strength to take action, to live a life of joy, peace, and abundance.  It is an inner knowing that “I, of myself, can do nothing – but with God within me, all things are possible.”

d. CONTRIBUTION refers to our willingness to make a positive difference in the lives of others.  The most enlightened way to help, support, or assist others is NOT through dole-outs, but rather by empowering them to be Self-Reliant.  Thus, they are able to fully express their God-given talents and gifts to be all they can be.

e. COMMITMENT means having 100% intention to produce the results we have targeted (i.e., our Vision, Mission and Goals).  In short, when we are truly committed, we would simply do whatever it takes (within moral, legal, and ethical bounds) to do what we said we will do and not allow our fears or obstacles to stop us.

f. SELF-RESPONSIBILITY or ACCOUNTABILITY… means we own whatever results we produce, whether we label them good or bad.  “I am accountable” means “I am personally responsible for whatever happens, whether the results are positive or negative.”  Self-responsibility also means absence of blame, shame, or regret.  We simply acknowledge ownership (i.e., “no one is doing it to me”), and then we move on to take whatever steps are necessary to create what we truly want.

g. GROWTH refers to our willingness to discipline ourselves to take action that would move us in the direction of our highest potential.  Because growth means change, we allow ourselves to expand our comfort zones by taking risks, learning new creative ways to handle our daily challenges, thus giving us ever increasing levels of confidence.  When we value Growth, we exhibit Courage which is to take action in the midst of fear.  That is, Fear becomes a friendly companion.

h. PROFESSIONALISM means acting according to the code of ethics and generally accepted principles and norms of our profession, while not allowing our personal idiosyncrasies and biases to interfere with the effective practice of our profession.

i. INNER JOYFULNESS means feeling wonderful (peaceful and happy) inside regardless of our present outer circumstances. Since our thoughts and feelings are creative, that is, they create our reality and experience, we can choose to adopt the Value of Inner Joyfulness as our prior condition.  When we do so, the Universe conspires to provide us with more circumstances and experiences that support our prior Inner Joyfulness.

j. AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION means the ability to always tell the truth about our feelings first to ourselves and then to others when appropriate.  It includes the willingness to share our true feelings without blame, judgment or having to make the other person wrong.  When we share our truth, people begin to trust us.  Conversely, when we trust the other person, we naturally communicate with authenticity.

k. OPEN-MINDEDNESS refers to our ability to suspend judgment on any new ideas by being willing to emotionally “get off” one’s point of view (P.O.V.) in order to consider other’s P.O.V.  One’s own paradigm (i.e., beliefs, values, attitudes, assumptions and expectations) often block or screen out potentially beneficial ideas or avenues.  The need for the ego to defend one’s P.O.V. must FIRST be put aside to truly manifest open-mindedness.  Creativity and innovation occur only outside the “nine-dots”.

5. How do we reinforce or adopt these new empowering Values?  Awareness is always the first step in our process of transformation.  This presumes, of course, that we actually do want to change.  With this kind of self-motivation, it is easier for us to practice the technique of Awareness Without Judgment of one’s own present values and behavior.

Like anything we wish to master, the process of transformation requires tremendous self-discipline.   Leaders  that wish to inculcate new empowering values within their organization or society  must be prepared to fully commit themselves to revising and ultimately strictly and consistently enforcing its Rewards and Sanctions Systems.