Living in Alignment - The Path to Fulfilment
You may hear the term alignment and probably understand the concept but how does that transfer into reality? into real life?
It is possible to recognise when we are out of alignment for example being asked to do something that goes against our principles may illicit a feeling of aversion and/or discomfort in our physical body, a sense of unease..
The way to find your sense of alignment is connecting your principles to how you feel when you are honouring them. Firstly become familiar with how alignment feels in your body, followed by getting clarity on what those principle or core values are now. Then you can anchor that even more deeply with energetic practices.
What Is a Value?
A value is a deeply held, guiding principle that shapes how you interpret the world, make decisions and measure what feels meaningful.
According to psychological and philosophical research (notably Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values) values are
Trans-situational they apply across situations and time
Chosen freely not inherited or imposed
Abstract motivations they describe why we do what we do, not what we do
Used to evaluate behaviour they help us judge what’s “good,” “right,” or “important”
In short
A value is a core motivator it tells you what truly matters to you underneath preferences, roles or outcomes.
Is a Way of Being the Same as a Value?
Not quite but they’re related.
A value is the why behind your behaviour.
“Freedom,” “Truth,” “Integrity,” “Beauty,” “Connection”
A way of being is how you embody that value in lived experience.
Living slowly, speaking clearly, creating art, being generous, setting boundaries
Think of it this way
Values = internal compass
Way of Being = how you walk the path
Example
Value Integrity
Way of Being You communicate honestly, keep your word, and say no when it’s misaligned.
Value Beauty
Way of Being You move through life with aesthetic awareness, tend to your environment, create things that feel harmonious.
How to Recognise a True Value (vs. a Conditioned One)
Many people confuse shoulds with values ( “I should value productivity, confidence”). To find authentic values, research suggests these conditions must be met
Authentic Values
Freely chosen not inherited from family, culture, or peer pressure
Not tied to outcomes, they guide actions regardless of result
Fulfill you intrinsically, acting from this place brings a sense of rightness or congruence
Consistent over time, they appear across different roles and chapters in your life
Research-Based Ways to Identify Your Values
Track peak experiences (from Positive Psychology)
Ask yourself
When did I feel most alive, congruent, or proud?
What was I honouring in myself in that moment?
You’ll often find values like truth, freedom, connection, or creativity emerge here.
Examine your emotional triggers
Strong emotional reactions (anger, grief, frustration) often signal a value is being violated.
Feeling dismissed? You may value respect.
Frustrated by superficiality? You may value depth or truth.
Look at what you admire in others
The qualities you deeply respect in people often mirror your core values.
If you admire someone’s clarity or quiet leadership, authenticity or sovereignty might be your values.
Reclaiming Your Core Values
A Path to Fulfilment and Alignment
Values shape every decision, action, and belief we hold yet many people move through life without consciously identifying them. When values remain unexamined it’s easy to feel lost, misaligned, or stuck in cycles of burnout and dissatisfaction. Whether in business or personal life understanding and living by your core values is essential for alignment and fulfilment.
Why Values Matter
Values act as an internal compass, guiding choices and behaviour. Neuroscience shows that when actions align with values the brain experiences greater coherence, reducing stress and increasing motivation. Research in positive psychology suggests that values-driven individuals experience higher levels of well-being, purpose and resilience.
From an energetic perspective living in alignment with values creates harmony in the biofield (the electromagnetic field surrounding and interpenetrating the body). When values are ignored or compromised, this field can become fragmented, leading to indecision and exhaustion.
In business values influence leadership, culture and decision-making. Businesses rooted in strong, authentic values tend to cultivate loyalty and long-term success. Leaders who embody their values inspire teams, attract aligned opportunities and navigate challenges with clarity.
Values as anchors to provide stability in uncertainty
Your core values provide stability amid entrepreneurial turbulence:
Emotional Regulation
Values clarity helps you interpret setbacks as data rather than personal failures, activating more adaptive coping strategies.Resilience
When challenges threaten your business, anchoring back to your “why” fuels perseverance. Strong personal values predict faster recovery from stressors.Strategic Focus
A clear set of values filters opportunities keeping you from chasing every shiny object and preserving your energy for what truly matters.
Finding Your Core Values
Discovering personal values requires self-inquiry and reflection. One way to begin is by noticing moments of deep satisfaction or frustration. The experiences that bring joy and meaning often align with values, while situations that trigger resentment or unease may indicate values being compromised.
Journaling prompts can help clarify values
What moments in life have felt the most fulfilling?
When have you felt the most inauthentic or disconnected?
What qualities do you admire in others?
What guiding principles influence your decisions?
Another approach is value mapping, a process of identifying, refining, and prioritising values. This involves listing potential values, grouping similar ones, and distilling them into core themes that feel most essential.
Values Mapping - A Reflective Practice
Set the Stage
Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can reflect without distraction. Bring a journal, pen, and perhaps calming music or a candle to create an intentional atmosphere.
Ground Yourself
Close your eyes, take several slow deep breaths, and focus on your body. Notice any areas of tension, ease, or energy. This helps you drop into the present moment and connect to your inner wisdom.
Somatic Practices to help you Align with Core Values
Values don’t just exist in the mind - they are embodied experiences. Tuning into the body and biofield can help reinforce alignment.
Somatic Awareness Practice
Now you’ve found your quiet space bring to mind a time when you felt deeply fulfilled. Notice the sensations in your body - perhaps a sense of expansion in the chest, warmth in the belly, or lightness in the limbs. find your physical experience that is a direct reflection of alignment with your values.
Now recall a moment when you felt out of integrity. Be careful not to revisit a strongly traumatic experience. Observe where tension, contraction, or unease arises. These signals provide insight into when your values may have been compromised.
By regularly checking in with the body, it becomes easier to recognise whether choices align with core values or not.
Now go back to previous experiences that felt deeply fulfilling, when you where most happy, they can be simple. Write down words that come up that feel important, let yourself flow. You want about 10 - 15 words. If you struggle to come up with the words looking ata a values list is helpful.
Narrow these words down to 5 main ones that resonate with your core values, that are most important to you. Asking yourself would you be willing to lose money, credibility or even friends is a way to challenge how strongly you feel about a value.
Now with the next step take yourself to the future and Here we are looking at what success means to you.
Ask the Core Question
Reflect on the question “What would a successful day feel like in my body?”
Visualise your ideal day as if you’re already living it.
Notice what emotions arise (e.g., joy, peace, fulfilment) and where those feelings show up in your body.
Identify Core Values
From your reflection, look back on your words and write down any more words or phrases that resonate with your experience. These might include values such as freedom, fairness, creativity, connection, or impact.
Map Your Goals to Your Values
Create a simple map that connects each core value to a specific goal or priority in your life or business. For example
Value Freedom
Goal: Build a flexible work schedule.
Value Connection
Goal: Spend uninterrupted time with loved ones each week.
Body Check-In
As you map your values to goals, notice how your body feels. If you feel tension or resistance, revisit the goal and adjust it until it feels aligned with ease and joy.
To deepen this add another layer
Energetic Value Anchoring
Close your eyes and say your most important core value out loud, visualise a golden thread extending from your heart, connecting to the essence of your most important value. With each inhale, imagine drawing that energy into your body, and into the field around your body reinforcing its presence in your daily life. With each exhale, release any tension, doubt or misalignment.
Practices like these strengthen the energetic connection to values, bringing the sound frequency of the word into the frequency of your biofield making your core values more tangible and actionable.
Signs you are out of alignment
Just as we used emotions sto feel into clarifying and verifying our values emotions are also a useful indicator for when we are out of alignment. This shows up as feeling triggered and is usually represented by strong feeling of shame, fear or anger. It is worth taking the time to unravel what is beneath our triggers to help us reorientate to our values.
Living in Alignment is The Path to Fulfilment
Once values are clear, integrating them into daily life is essential. Decision-making becomes easier when guided by a strong internal framework. Relationships deepen when built on shared values. Work becomes more meaningful when it reflects personal truth.
Values are enduring beliefs about what is important in life, standards that guide goals, choices and behavior. Unlike fleeting preferences values function as internal compasses that shapes your
Priorities (creativity vs. security)
Motivations ( autonomy vs. community)
Sense of purpose ( growth vs. stability)
Fulfilment doesn’t come from external achievements alone it arises from living in harmony with what truly matters to you.
By reclaiming your values, you reclaim yourself.
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