Today we will be continuing our exploration of The Seven Principles by unveiling the second principle: The Personal Code. The Personal Code is in effect a set of values created by you for you based on your authentic self. Like all aspects of this series, this new principle builds on the foundation created by the one before it. To fully explore The Personal Code, an individual must have a good understanding of the first principle, authenticity. If you would like to review Authenticity, click here.
If you are ready, let’s continue and see what The Personal Code is all about.
We defined value sets are integrated into every form of life – businesses, religions, organizations, and countries use them to help define their purpose and establish themselves as a distinct entity. They also refer to these value sets when trying to make decisions and choose direction. These value sets can have many different names – mission statements, commandments, bills of rights or constitutions – but they all essentially serve the same purpose: to help an entity easily define itself and its goals.
As individuals, we all have private value sets imbeded in our concious and subconsious minds. Some of those values are picked up over time, some are put there by society, family, country, or business, and some are of our own establishment. However, the next step after establishing our authentic self is to do some housekeeping on our value sets, reevaluate them, and rework them into The Personal Code.
The Personal Code is distinct for everyone. It is a set of 7 core values that sums up what is important to you as an authentic individual in life and work. The Personal Code is a combination of abstract and defined concepts: the 7 values should be easily recalled and hold clear meaning, however each value is meant to merely be a nebulous summary of a greater, more complex believe. For example, a core value might be ”Honesty,” but the meaning of honesty to the individual might mean many things, including honesty with yourself, honesty with your loved ones, honesty with the IRS, etc. Each core value is a snapshot – one to two words – that describes a larger concept.
Many of you may read this and think that it is a silly principle – after all, who doesn’t know what their values are? Well, the question I have for you is, do you know yours? Could you look me in the eye right now and without hesitation tell me what the 7 most important concepts are to you and why?
I am going to assume not. Most of us don’t take the time to think about our values in depth. We acquire and affect them from other people and our surrounding enviornment, and when it comes down to it we don’t really know why we believe what we believe.
But the Uncommon life is an examined life, and after we have established a sense of our authentic selves it is time to define exactly what is important to us. Not to our parents, our society, not what “should” be important – but what is important.
Furthermore, we need to have the strength and security to standby these values and claim them proudly as our own. There is no reason to be ashamed of your authentic self and values – you are a worthwhile individual who has much to offer the world and those around you – do not shirk away from being who you are.
Remember what Marianne Williamson wrote:
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?…Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
Individuals living an uncommon life are able to easily share their Personal Code and expound on what each value means to them. It is an essential part in defining who you are, taking control of your life, and deciding what path to take.
After all, if you don’t know who you are, how can you know where you really want to go?
Next time we will look at different exercises about how to identify and define your unique Personal Code!
Can’t wait for more about The Personal Code? Check out The Life Uncommon: How to Leave the Rat Race, Pursue Your Passions, and Succeed Financially on sale now!
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Great post Nacie! I think that is a really revealing connection to make between our personal values and documents that we put so much faith in, like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. You’re offering a really constructive path of self governance; I can’t wait to see the exercises!
Love the quote by Marianne Williamson. You’re right, most of us don’t spend enough time thinking about our values. I just finished listening to a great program called Life by Design that talked about value identification so I got a little bit of a head start on this.
Looking forward to reading more!