Values

A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values. Values can range from the commonplace, such as the belief in hard work and punctuality, to the more psychological, such as self-reliance, concern for others, and harmony of purpose. When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields. For example, one actor was motivated by his commitment to social justice, which led to important acting roles related to that value that made him world famous. Likewise, a well-known business CEO was motivated by the personal value that technology should be easy to use, which caused his company to spawn a technology revolution. Whatever one's values, when we take them to heart and implement them in the smallest details of our lives, great accomplishment and success are sure to follow.

Values as Spiritual Skills

Values are spiritual skills, emanations of the Divine that our heart and mind can relate to for practical application to ennoble life.

Capacity vs. Values

Capacity is of the physical. It is what we have already fully acquired. Values is of the mind and spirit, it is what we aspire to attain. Capacity reflects the values we have already fully accepted mentally, endorsed vitally and mastered physically -- e.g. the capacity to be punctual in the West, or to make things perfectly, or to organize or to fight courageously. What we call values are capacities still in the making, e.g. generosity, self-giving, taking the other person's point of view, truthfulness. When these values become physical sensitivities, they too are converted into capacities of extraordinary power. (MSS)

Attitudes are vital values, opinions mental values, Attitudes vs. Values
Our personal attitudes and our personal values appear quite similar. However, on closer analysis we see a distinct difference. For one, an attitude reflects more of our vital behavior and action, whereas our values reflect more of our mental beliefs, which may or may not express through our behavior. For example, when we say that I am tolerant or intolerant, it is expressing a positive and negative attitude regarding one's own tolerance. However, when I say that I believe in tolerance or open-mindedness, then I am expressing a value. In that way, a value contains a conscious mental recognition of the thing -- as an ideal subscribed too; whereas an attitude is a less conscious vitalized opinion expressed through our behavior and actions. It is also interesting to note that one may value tolerance and still be intolerant! A perfect value would be integrated into one's behavior, not just one's belief system; i.e. the value of a belief in tolerance would be reflected in our tolerant vital behaviors and actions, i.e. as a positive attitude. A value practiced and applied through our attitudes, behaviors, etc. is a skill of life whose origin is of the spirit.

Values Energize Anything

The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energizes everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attracts success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organization become energized, as do its customers, its products and services, and everyone and everything else associated with that organization.

The deepest poise for an individual, business, or society are its values. When values are implemented or are newly developed, then outer circumstances can change ten times faster (and better) than merely trying to change things on the surface.

Power of Values

The greatness and nobleness of an event do not depend on material success, but on the feelings which inspire it and the goal which men have pursued. (The Mother) [These are its values.]

True Value of an Event

Apply Values to Life Goals

In any plan you implement to improve your life, add the necessary values to energize that process. E.g. to raise your income 50% through instruction you could apply the value of self-givingness, tolerance to others opinions, and clarity and perfection of the principle conveyed. Doing so will energize the plan beyond all measure.

Values and Success

Every story of success is based on the implementation of personal, social, and other values of one variety or another. Energizing a Plan/Act through Values You energize any plan of action --from a strategic plan to the tiniest act -- with values. It helps turn the force of energy in the objective into a much greater power that can now be achieved through organization, effort, and skill. Power of Values to Shape Our Lives In the mid 1970s, I made a decision to move to California from New York City, where I was raised. Why I did so, and why I made other decisive turns in my life is the subject of this essay. My first thought on the subject is that I took these actions simply because I was motivated to do so. And yet, what really motivates us in life are the things we truly value. Then what were the values that compelled me to move to California -- in particular to the San Francisco Bay Area -- where I have resided for these last 30 years? Well, it is true that after five years attending college at frigid Syracuse University in upstate New York I was compelled to seek the warmer climes of California. But I could have moved south to Florida or to the Southwestern parts of the US. However, having been raised in the urban/suburban environment of New York City, I valued culture and a certain type of urban sophistication I might not find in those other locales. I also enjoyed being near the water, not only because of its shimmering beauty, but because cities at the edge of the great oceans tend to attract a diversity of people and a richness of culture from around the world.

Though climate, beauty, diversity, and culture influenced my decision, there must have been something more specific that compelled me to move to this region. Looking at it in retrospect, I have concluded that I came to the area because of the existence of Marin County -- the progressive community that lies directly across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Marin County at the time (and still is) was the prosperous land where many of the creative musicians, artists, and thinkers of the 1970s lived. From the articles and reports I had read while living on the East coast, the people who lived in that region were involved with matters that meant a great deal to me -- i.e. aspects of life that I truly valued. And because I deeply believed in those things, I wanted to be near them; to somehow participate in their way of life. And so I headed out to the SF Bay Area in 1975 in earnest -- and never looked back.

Moral Values
Every community has rules and regulations which guide the members to behave well. Each member of the community should be able to choose between right and wrong. As children, we are expected to know these rules and regulations so that we can behave well and become useful citizens. It is only when we do this that people can say, we have good morals and respect the values of the society. Some of these morals or values are honesty, justice, loyalty, patriotism, and generosity.

Hospitality
Hospitality is kindness which is shown in various practical ways to people. When we receive and help travelers and visitors, we can describe the service that we give to them as hospitality. Jesus told a story to show how hospitality should be given. In the story He advised that, when inviting people to a feast or a party, we must not only invite relatives, friends, or rich neighbors. We should rather invite persons such as the poor and sick (Luke 14:12-14). He also used this story to show us that hospitality should be shown to people without thinking of a reward.

Gratitude
Gratitude means thankfulness. It is one of the good qualities an individual should have. When someone serves us, does us a kindness, or shows hospitality to us, we should be grateful or thankful to him. The commonest expression people use to show gratitude is Thank you. In our everyday life, we should learn to say thank you to all who help us. We should thank God for the life He has given us and for all the good things he does for us.