Values

Today in my Inquiry class, we were learning about values. Values, in a nutshell, are ways of thinking and beliefs that drive our actions. This can be both good and bad. I never really thought about how sticking to values could be a bad thing, but then Dr. Covey opened my eyes. The German SS (Schutzstaffel) was a huge example of values gone bad. During the Nazi reign, the SS officers had two values that they stuck to: honor and loyalty. Seems pretty noble. Their motto was “my honor is my loyalty” and that’s partially what led to the extermination of so man Jews during WWII. They were loyal to Hitler and so morally, they thought they were doing what was right. That blows my mind.

During class, we were asked to think about our own values. After some thought, I came up with 3 that really guide my actions all the time. Compassion, inquiry and faith. As I mentioned in an earlier post compassion is very important to me and it generally drives my actions. Inquiry is basically the whole reason I’m in college. I love to learn. I’m always curious and questioning and I think that’s good. The world is so mysterious, one could never know everything there is to know, but I think it’s worth it to try. As for faith, I think it’s substantial. Not just religious faith, but a general faith in humanity. A faith that in the end, everything will turn out okay. This value not only drives my actions, but it also contributes to my mental health.

Values are meaningful and influential, when used correctly. What are your values?