Some notes to guide our discussion on values

values.md

What are they?

• The things that affect how you feel about your actions. If you take action consistent with your values, you feel good about yourself. If you take actions inconsistent with your values, you will dwell on it, and feel bad about yourself.
• They're often called core values.

Why do I care?

• A lot of your thoughts, feelings and actions are affected by your core values.
• Through an understanding of your values, you can put yourself in situations that are more likely to result in actions that you feel good about.
• Ultimately, this does affect your productivity.
• But your happiness is more important than your productivity anyway.

How do I find out about what my values are?

• Talk to other people about theirs. Do you agree or disagree?
• Think about what makes you happy and feel good about yourself.
• There's lists out there to get you started if you're unsure.
• It's not obvious, and values change over time.

What kind of problems can you run into?

• Your values may embarrass you if they seem inconsistent with others.
• You might find that the people around you don't share your values. Friends and family both.
• There are other forces determining your actions. Peer pressure, embarrassment, temptation. They can lead to you acting against your values. Knowing your values will help you predict whether an action will make you feel better about yourself or not.