You and Your Values

You and Your Values
HOW TO BE YOURSELF
It's not always easy to be ourselves. Sometimes, when we're with other people, we make choices or act in ways that are different from when we're alone. Here are some ways to prevent that from happening.
Know your values and stay true to them.
Make your own choices, don't just go along with the crowd.
Respect yourself.
Think about your goals and act accordingly.

What are Values?
Your values are your personal inventory of what you consider most important in life. We all have values, but unless we take the time to think about those values, we can easily overlook them when we're making important choices. Here are some guidelines for identifying what you value.
Is this something that's important to you?
Do you feel good about this being important to you?
Would you feel good if people you respect knew that this was important to you?
Have you ever done anything that indicates that this is important to you?
Is this something you would stand by even if others made fun of you for it?
Does this fit in with your vision of who you are?
Discussion Questions
When somebody says "just be yourself," what does that mean?
Is it always easy to be yourself, or can it sometimes be difficult? Why? How? Give examples.
Does fitting in ever make it hard to be yourself? Why?
Do all the kids in a group have the same values?
Do you think that sometimes people make choices that conflict with their values? Can you give an example? Are they aware that they're doing that? What would cause somebody to make a choice that conflicts with his/her values?
Do you think we are born with values or we learn them? If we learn them, how do we learn them? Who helps you figure out what you value?
How can you benefit from knowing what your values are?