We all have values. They permeate our lives and show themselves in our actions and behavior. Our values (and our character as a whole) are what we do when no one is looking - and what we're willing to stand for when others are looking.
Whether we realize it or not, we all have our own values. Many times, though, we don't know what those values are. That's a bit of a scary thought, isn't it? Deep in your heart, you stand for something - but you may not even know what it is!
So how to we know what are our values? One of the easiest ways to spot our values is in one place: our ethics.
Now to a lot of us, "values" and "ethics" seem kind of synonymous. Aren't they the exact same? No, they're not. While they deal with the same issue (our character), ethics are when our values are put into practice.
The best way I've heard it stated was this: Ethics are values in motion.
The main difference between values and ethics is that values are subconscious ideas, whereas ethics are conscious decisions. The conscious choices you make reflect the values that you hold. You choose your priorities, and you govern your time accordingly - all according to your values.
But what affect do values have in our lives and futures? Where do we get our values - and can we change them? Because there are so many points to this topic, I will have to save them for the next post.
Until then, take a look at the ethics in your life - your choices. What do your decisions say about your values? Every choice we make continues to build up a value. What values are we building?