Table of Contents

• Why Important
• Distinction between Values and Goals
• How to Clarify Values
• Guidelines in Setting Goals

I. Why Important

Many people feel that they can do more in this life if they were given the chance to accomplish their potential. They blame other people, circumstances, lack of opportunity, etc., for such inability to achieve. One of the real roots or causes of under-achievement is actually the lack of clarity of one’s values, resulting in the inability to set clear goals, which in turn results in lack of strong determination to do something. Without such clarification of values and goals, one will often fail to see genuine opportunities in life, and one is often be drawn to other opportunities which may not really be important to him or her in the long run, or may even contradict one’s basic values. Therefore it is important to be clear as to what are the important values in one’s life, and based on these, one can set long and short term directions and goals in life.

II. Distinction between Values and Goals

Values are basic things that are important to a person. It can be a principle (such as justice), an state or experience (such as spirituality), an activity (such as creative expression), or a thing (such as the family). Goals are directions one decides to pursue on the basis of these values.
For example: a person may decide to be a writer or a painter because creativity is a more important value that being wealthy. Being a good painter is the goal, creativity is the value. When goals are in conflict with a person’s values, then the person will have difficulty in attaining such goals, and the person will probably be unhappy in pursuing such goals, even if he attains them.
III. How to Clarify Values

There are many possible approaches to discovering what our values are. A few approaches are suggested below. It must be remembered that values must be discovered, and hence it may take time and patience for us to identify them

. We must repeat the process many times before we can be sure that they are our true values.
On a sheet of paper, write down the three most important things that you like to happen or to attain before you die. (It is important that you write it down, and not just think about it.) For example: to be able to send your children to college, or to write a book, or to have your own house, or to become a more spiritual person. Write them down even if you are not very sure, you will have a chance to change them later. You may write more than three items.
Next, list down your replies to this question: What principles do you wish to live by in your life and in your pursuit of the most important things you listed above? What character qualities do you wish to have or be known for when people remember you after you die? Write your answers freely and at random. You can review them later. For example: “Being respected by others;” “having integrity in whatever I do;” “being sincere to other people;” “always having faith in the Lord;” “being fair and just to everyone.” “being persevering;” etc. (An alternative approach is to write your own obituary: how you will be described as a person after you die.)
Two Important Notes:
What you have listed above will help you discover your values in life, or the important things that you value in life. During the first time that you do this, you may be unsure as to the correctness of your lists. Make another set of lists after a day, a week, a month, or a year. Compare your earlier and later lists. You will gradually become more certain as to its correctness as you do this exercise repeatedly.
You must review the desirability or worthwhileness of your chosen values. Some of your chosen values may turn out to be narrow and selfish, and eventually harmful not only to others but to yourself. Study well the art of living. Your values, if chosen well, will become your indispensable compass during difficult periods of your life.
IV. Guidelines in Setting Goals

If you have clarified your values, you may now be prepared to clarify your medium and short term goals by answering the following questions:
What are the five (or more) most important things I need to accomplish in the next five years? What are the five (or more) most important things I need to accomplish in the next three years?
What are my priorities in the next six or twelve months?
Two Important Notes:
What you do in three to five years must be relevant to your life values (the first list you made in previous section). If they are not relevant, then either your life list is not authentic, or you are probably doing the wrong things for the next 3 to 5 years. Review them and see why they are not aligned, and what you must do to align them.
Your priorities in the next 6 to 12 months may or may not be connected with your life lists. For example, you may have to give attention to your studies or some urgent project first. We need to fulfill our immediate duties, and this is but right.
All rights reserved. Peace Center, Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines. This outline may be reproduced provided this notice appears.
Notes on related questions for Values Clarification:
(not included in the handout)

Write down the principles which will guide you in attaining the above important things, using the following guide questions: What are the things you are NOT willing to abandon in pursuing the most important things in your life? Integrity? Honesty? Fairness? Your family? Your parents? Your conscience? Your faith? For example: In wanting to write a book, you do not wish to abandon your duty to your family. Or in having your own house, you do not wish to lose your integrity. What sacrifices are you willing to go through in order to attain the important things that you have listed?
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Peace Center
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