Well, the short answer is Yes. When we live in alignment with our values, we experience a deeper sense of “rightness” with our world. We experience ourselves as sacred. When we live our lives out of balance, we undermine our sense of connection and congruence with with what is sacred and important in our lives. The work of living a well-ordered life has huge payoffs, but what questions do we need to ask ourselves to get back on track?
Well, before you start, research focused on successful behavioral change has shown that it is important to ask yourself this question:
“How much do I truly want to change?”
If you answer is not something similar to a lot, then you need to ask the next best question;
What is more important to me than making this change? What do I currently value more than my health, self-regard, and happiness?
Be honest with yourself without being judgmental. Noticing where you are is the first step to finding your way out of a problem. When you ask the question, keep an open and optimistic mind. You’re never stuck with your circumstances, they are temporary. You can make better choices to address the problems you are trying to solve with habits that erode your well-being. The first step is to name the problem, solving it will then be possible.
We often misidentify the things that will bring us happiness. We fall into habit patterns that do not support our health or happiness. Over-drinking, smoking or overeating to calm unpleasant feelings is a very common problem. Start by realizing there are better, more effective, and healthier strategies. Our senses become glutted and we numb ourself to our true values.
Our values are the most powerful allies we have in creating good habits. Our values arise from the sacred and spiritual parts of our being. To exercise a bad habit is literally “de-valuing” yourself. Think about your values, what is sacred to you? Making the connection between what your find sacred and how you live is the key to an authentic and healthy lifestyle.
Source; G.A. Marlatt, S. Curry and J.R. Gordon, “A Longitudinal Analysis of Unaided Smoking Cessation,” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 56 (1988) 715-720.
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