The second step in the Daily Stack method is to define your values. If you haven’t done step 1, please go back to my original post on that.

This is about building habits so why am I talking about values?

While vision and purpose answer the why, our values determine the how. One analogy is the vision and purpose are the foundation and the values are the pillars to the structure.

Gandhi actually flipped the structure. He said your habits become your values. I agree with this. However, I would say you can predetermine what you want your values to be and drive your actions to reflect those values. Ultimately what we do is the expression of our values.

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny.”

― Gandhi

No matter where you start, values are critical to living the life that you want to live. As an example, people ask me how to save money. I tell them to decide what is most important for them to spend money on and then figure out to cut costs on everything else. How you spend your money (your actions and habits) is indeed a reflection on what you value.

So where did I start? I wrote down ten things that are important to me. I then distilled it further and further until I could get into the essence or the “core” of those values. My values are as follows:

• Health
• Family
• Living with no regrets
• Gratitude
• Growth and learning
• Valuing time
• Hard work
• Protecting dreams

What isn’t listed there that I should add is helping people. However I suppose that would have already been stated in my vision and purpose in Step 1.

What are your values? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or subscribe to the blog to keep in touch!