Values as a compass

Recently, on a walk, I was stunned by the beauty of a shrub, a vibrant yellow awakening my senses. I was stunned because not too long ago I traversed the same path and that same shrub was barren. How could such a stark change happen and how could I not notice? During that walk, I was reminded that my most transformative life transitions didn't involve dramatic leaps, but incremental bridges that connected my established values systems to new territories. Just like that yellow shrub, advances in my personal and professional life changed over time until one day the transformation was so obvious, it stunned me.

That feeling of being stunned reminds me of the quote from the character Shug, in the Color Purple: "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." Today, it was yellow, but it really reminded me that the beauty and wonder of our journey can sometimes pass us by, if we don't take the time to notice- especially if we are beholden to the cycle of responsibility

When we have competing obligations, it can be difficult to know which direction to go in, however, with a strong understanding of our core beliefs -intention, legacy, values- we can make decisions that are aligned. Navigating the unknown and attempting to get to a new place or even a familiar place requires creating bridges during transitions. These bridges are created by our values systems which are a collection of intrinsic and extrinsic principles that inform our beliefs, guide our decisions, and serve as the foundation of our character. Values create a sense of continuity when everything seems to be changing because they are for the most part stable components of our character. When everything seems to be influx, you can reference back to your values system, a compass that guides you and can be a source of comfort. Values can be the steady during rocky times. Values can bring a sense of calm during rocky times. Values can bring a sense of assuredness during rocky times.

Finding your way back to center when external opinions shake your foundation

The practice and concepts that make up the Intellectual Will journal came to be because I was experiencing rocky times. While in graduate school, I was told I wasn't "PhD material" and it rocked me to my core. I went on a multi-year journey to figure out what material I was. That journey began with me believing I wasn’t a good writer then led me to believing I was a procrastinator, and finally led to me believing that I wasn’t focused. As I climbed deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of trying to understand why I wasn’t PhD material, a shift began to happen. I realized that I was once again letting external opinions influence how I thought of myself. Eventually, I no longer was trying to figure out if I was PhD material or not. I was trying to understand why a comment like that could knock me off my center.

In trying to understand why the comment knocked me off my center, I did a lot of reading and reflection and eventually created a self-discovery practice to support my inner world that was full of visions and dreams, but without action was remaining unleashed and unknown. I recognized that I was thrown off by that comment because I was not clear on my core beliefs and goals. To get back to center and grounded I reevaluated my core beliefs.

In college, when I decided to not go to law school, I made the radical decision to forge my own path, but at that age, I didn't really understand that I shouldn't just stop there, I should understand what I want. It wasn't until I heard that comment made to me, that I realized I was just floating through life without a roadmap.

Building your values system: a three-step process

Taking the time to truly identify my values, took trial and error, but when I figured it out, that compass led me forward and I had steadfastness while on my journey. I was able to graduate, find employment, and even create the Intellectual Will journal to help other quiet leaders and explorers on their journey.

The steps I took to develop my value system included:

• Values hunting. Reading through values and identifying three to five that resonated with me and served as a foundation for the impact, legacy, and dreams I had for myself.
• Values measurement. Narrowing my list down, I had to pressure test it. I spent a few weeks to refine. I would every night, write down the values and determine if I embodied that value that day. Over time, I realized there were values that I thought were very important to me, but were more secondary in terms of my broader vision.
• Values definition. Measuring my values allowed me to identify the core principles that make up my values system. I then spent time defining what those values meant for myself.

With my values system in hand, I can make decisions and navigate even the most difficult times because I am clear on where I stand.

Leading with my values has allowed me to pivot to new directions, walk an uncertain path, and prioritize goals so that I can take purposeful action. I am not without fear or worry, but I am extremely confident in my ability to navigate difficulties because my moral compass is strong. Every now and then I am stunned by "yellow"— I am so aligned that I appreciate the sudden beauty of change and recognize the gradual growth.

What 'yellow' moments have you recently experienced?

*** Dr. Lisa-Marie

Values in action: My curiosity as a guide

This month one of my values -curiosity- led me to:

• Continue hanging out on YouTube creating Sounds that Ground in a complex world. I'm returning to my art practice of collage and curation (see below).
• I am valuing my interests in the arts and returning to my practice because "...creation is an odyssey with no stopovers..." as I was reminded by the great Frankètienne, an Haitian artist and writer who recently passed away.
• I believe we are all entrepreneurs because at the root of the everydayness of life, we are always thinking of new ways to operate in our world. I am thinking about this because of the podcast episode by 'For the Worldbuilders' titled; Your favorite Black feminist was an entrepreneur.

Sounds that Ground in a Complex World

Curated instrumental playlists designed for reflection, focus, and clarity. A musical companion for writers, creators, and quiet leaders seeking depth.