The start of every year is a good time for establishing new resolutions, intentions and goals for the year ahead, but most important than setting any goal or intention is, first of all, defining or reviewing your values. I will explain you why.

Everyone has values. Everyone alive on this planet live by values, even if they do not think about this or consciously know what their values are. Values shape your choices, your behaviours and your priorities. They reveal a big part of one's character, beliefs and motivations. This means that your values have an immense impact in your life, they directly influence your perception.

The new year list setting goes like this: values, intentions, goals, plan and action. Be in mind, the first and the last (values and action) are the foundation of everything else, the indispensable for making thoughts a reality. You can have all intentions, goals and an excellent plan, but without knowing why you are doing what you are doing (your values) and not doing and executing what you believe in (actions aligned with your values) nothing, absolutely nothing will change or make a difference.

Values, therefore, are your internal compass, your north, your philosopher's stone. Once you define what your values are, what is worthy in your life, then you go to your intentions (which are a bigger picture of your goals), then your goals (SWAT goals), a plan to execute your goals (your habits on a daily basis) and then, the best of them all, the ACTION, like how we say in Portuguese: put the hands on the dough.

In 2025 your values will guide:

All your decisions. And when I say all, I meant it. From small choices to big dilemas, your values will show you the most right and important path to take. And believe me, the answers for your conundrums always relies on your values.

Establish your priorities. Where you spent time, put your energy and resources on, focus only the things that matter to you.

Your authenticity and integrity. When you have an inner conflict go back to your values to solve your struggles.

All challenges through resilience. The more you know and reinforce your values in your internal dialogue the faster you puzzle out the challenges ahead.

Your purpose, intentions, goals and actions. Once you determine your values, everything else follows. It is the reason behind every move.

All that said, how do you define your values?

Choose from three to ten values. Start thinking what is the most important things to you, what do you really enjoy doing, what brings joy to your heart, what are your habits, look for the people around you as they have a strong influence over you. Are your core values aligned with your habits? If not, which core values do you need to carry in 2025 to guide the things mentioned above? If you want to change a specific habit, which core values you must carry to align with the person you want to become?

Another good way to find your core values is looking to the people you admire. What are their core values?

And never forget...

Core values change throughout life. We change. Life changes. Everything changes. And core values are not different. Be flexible. You will feel in your heart when something is changing within yourself and be truthful to recognise the time to shift a value and move on.

It might be very challenging at times to drastic change a core value as with big adjustment comes painful transitions. However, the longer you ignore your inner battles, the more frustrated you become. You choose the pain of the transition which will eventually be transformed in your most joyful and authentic version of self or the pain of frustration which is constant and only grows until it becomes regret and remorse.

So,

Make 2025 a year guided by your values and see how life flows. Defining and reviewing your core values is the first step to have more clarity in your decisions and create a reality lined up with what truly matters for you. I wish you, above everything else, a year full of purpose, truth and meaning. Live it fully! Make it worth living!

With love,
Cha