Free, Fair, Focus, Family, Friend

When you get up in the morning, do you ask yourself, “What good will I do today?” And what about when you go to bed at night? Do you ask, “What good did I do today?” Because Ben Franklin valued doing something good, he used these questions to reflect upon how well he had lived his values. These principles or values are deeply held beliefs that guide a person’s life.

Managing your life according to your values is not always easy. Often you will be tested by those who do not embrace your values. Negative people may discount your positive attitude. People with poor relationships may not understand your devotion to your friends and family. Some may not understand your dedication to the freedom to grow. Others may find your fairness and willingness to look at all sides as maddening. However, remaining true to my values keeps me focused on living my best life. It was Albert Einstein who advised that we “Try not to become men of success. Rather, become men of value.” He knew that by focusing on values, success will be a natural byproduct.

Live your life based on the values you embrace. Each day, spend some time reflecting upon whether you have lived that day according to your values. It’s important to recognize that, by choosing to focus on such values, you may not always get what you desire in life, but you will always be the person you desire to be!

Missed the beginning of our journey through the alphabet? Check out the rest of Getting Back to Basics.

Members, are you following along? If you want to create your own words to enrich your positive self-talk, download Real People … An Alphabet Adventure from the Chapter Contests and Activities in the Members Area of our website.