Plugging Along . . . and Now Maybe Getting It

I'm still having a difficult time trying to figure how to give my life meaning. And, on top of that, I read another article that says, in order to lead a happy life, you should align what you do every day with your values. 

And then I have to think just what are my values. And what does that mean, exactly?

On the MindTools website (https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values), it says; "Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They (should) determine your priorities, and, deep down, they're probably the measures you use to tell if your life is turning out the way you want it to."

Hmmm. Still didn't really get it until I got to the end of the article where numerous "common personal values" were listed. These included:

Accountability, Achievement, Adventurousness, Altruism, Being the Best, Belonging. Calmness, Clear-mindedness, Commitment, Compassion, Competitiveness, Creativity, Diversity, Efficiency, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Exploration, Faith, Helping Society, Independence, Teamwork, Success, and Obedience.

I found many of the values on the site resonated with me. I guess these are my values, which I have never really thought about before this. I've just been plugging along, one foot in front of the other, somehow managing to survive in one piece.

I chose 41 values from the list, some of which may be future values because, as we all know, life is not static. Here are a few of my right-now values: creativity, independence, calmness, curiosity, fairness, freedom, making a difference, self-reliance, stability, dependability, and exploration.

So, now I should think about these every day to see if my daily life is coordinating with what I see as my values. But I don't know about all 41 chosen values. I was probably like a kid in a candy store, choosing all the best words to describe me, even if it's a fictional me.

Here's goes the next chapter of an ever-evolving life. You would think I'd have figured out my life and how to live it by now. I guess some people just wander down different paths, wondering where these roadways are taking them, exploring what's out there.

Hey, isn't exploration one of my values?