In keeping with the instructions for the Values Card Sort posted previously, the recommendation is to do the sort a couple of times per year.  So I did one last night.  It was harder than I remembered.

Before I share the details, a recap of the changes that have occurred since my last card sort:  I took a real vacation for the first time in several years, I boosted the frequency and intensity of my art and sold my first piece, and I started this blog.  That’s pretty darn good.

Last nights card sort saw a lot of things end up initially in the ‘Most Important’ and ‘Important’ stacks and not a lot in the ‘Least Important’.  I do admit some decision fatigue.

The Most Important:

 

The Top Five:

I followed the rules though and narrowed it down to the ‘Top Five’:

Health:  I have not been honoring this value in the recent months.  I continue to work out on the weekends, but have been a little too overwhelmed at work and have gone in early and staying late.  This has negatively affected by mental and physical health.  This weekends goal is to find a new gym as the barrier to attendance has not subsided.

Family:  If I’m going to work early and staying late, this aspect is clearly neglected.  I feel that if I get back in line with my health, this will also fall into place as I will not be so mentally and physically fatigued at the end of the workday.

Creativity:  I feel like I’m in a good place here!  Yay!

Growth:  I also believe I am honoring this value at this time with the work on the blog and with my art and even professionally.  I have done a lot recently that I never thought I would be doing and it feels pretty good.  I don’t have as much of the ‘impostor’ feeling as in the past.

Genuineness:  I think the blog is really helping with this aspect as well.  My actions are in line with my thoughts and values and I feel pretty good about that right now.

Moving Forward:

So after reviewing the values identified, the aspects that I have to work on for the next few months are my health and my connection with family.  This means becoming more strict with my work/life ‘balance’ and staying truer to the hours I get paid for each week.  By the New Year, I expect to see some positive change in this area!

What values are in your Top Five?  Are you honoring them at this time?  What is one change you can make to move toward honoring your values?