Welcome to SZEN ZONE

Working on your Core

In fitness training there are lots of exercises for helping to strengthen our body’s core. Specialists say that core strength is the pillar of our overall health. I agree and another core that’s important is our core values. I believe that identifying and then practicing our core strengths/values is what ultimately defines us.

Core values are those inherent behavioral traits that do not change over time and are at the heart of our own identity. In my work, I help clients to name and rally behind their core values. They are the fuel for defining our vision and purpose. Once identified, we can tap into their power to transform and energize and lead us to whatever our dreams may be. The only caveat is that they cannot be in conflict to the dream or in any way appear inauthentic. Our core values are not just what we say we are, it’s how we demonstrate our true selves and they are the reason for why we’re here and act the way we do.

Core values are not just our personality although personality can influence what we choose as values, nor are they ethics or morals. Core values represent what’s really important to us and fuels our sense of purpose. Here are a couple of ideas to help define yours:

– Can you remember the very best moment of your life? Ask yourself how you navigated to that moment. What decisions did you have to make that instinctively guided you to your greatest moment? Perseverance, hope, faith, confidence, truth, money, success – whatever you had called upon to believe in to achieve that greatest moment, is or was a core value.

– Values change for us over time – Younger times it’s about a career and as we age it’s more about family. Some values never change and they help us make good decisions about everything because when our decisions “feel” right it’s because we are aligned with something inside us that really “knows” us. It’s our inner voice that is speaking the truth.

– I’ll share one of mine that has served me well and I believe is core to my existence. I feel it’s my duty to have a positive impact with all of the people in my life – Family, friends, clients and anybody that could use some winning perspective. Somewhere on my journey I got the hang of it and its brought me more joy than I ever imagined possible.

As Mahatma Ghandi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”

Thanks for listening.

Szenippet: What we believe we can become we will become.