I've lived with Anxiety and Depression all my life and have been on a constant journey to find ways to manage them. Self-help books, therapy, forums, family and friends... I've turned everywhere I can think of.
One thing that's really stood out to me has been assessing my core values. E.g. Love/Independence/Experience etc.. This is something I've read in self-help books and also have been speaking with my therapist about. The rationale behind this being so effective is that it gives you something lifelong to focus on, to live by and purpose to guide your actions in a meaningful way to you.
Sometimes we set goals with no clear importance, ones that have a clear ending. In my own experience, what I've found by doing this is that I'm satisfied only for a short time. I reach my goal (or don't reach it) and then I'm left feeling underwhelmed.. "now what?" I'm back to the frame of mind I was in originally. I'm searching for something more and this goal that I set for the sake of having something to do meant nothing anymore.
When looking at your values, they will probably be different to other people AND THAT'S OK! Be honest with yourself when determining which are important to you and set them for nobody but yourself - this was something that I struggled with. Separating what you 'think' you should value and what you actually value can be a challenge, especially when society gets in your head.
If you have a mind like mine, you may find it hard to focus on specific values and may begin to overthink. I found that taking a step back and realising that one step was better than no step helped me move forward. Although many values may be important to you, focusing on a core few will be better than circling your thoughts in need for change. The best part? You can adjust them whenever you want to.
So start somewhere and go from there. One may be a value to you simply because you find joy in it!
Tips:
- Google can be your friend. Feel free to look at lists of values to get your head around some ideas if you're stuck. But also remember that what you value doesn't need to make sense to anyone else.
- Start by setting small, achievable goals. (One of my first goals was to drink an extra bottle of water every day - very small but achievable and good for me)
- Focus on daily or weekly goals alongside your long term ones (our mind loves quick wins and it's very motivating)
If you have anything to add or you've had your own experience with this exercise, please share!
