Post #3

 My Values

    Since beginning to work with children a couple of years ago, I have come to realize what some of my values are in life. My top five values would be honesty, self-expression, accountability, communication, and kindness. I believe that all of these tie together in some way. Some of these values I have had trouble being comfortable with as I have grown up, but I am proud that I hold them today. I am known to the people close to me that I will tell them the truth about anything at all times, usually unprompted. This can be my downfall, but I would rather get something off my chest than bottle it up, and I encourage everyone around me to do the same. Self-expression is definitely one of the values that I have kept with me since I was a child. My mom has raised me to believe that people should be allowed to express themselves in any way they please, as long as it doesn't harm anyone. This goes along with kindness as well for me. Sometimes, we may have prejudgments about someone's appearance/way they express themselves, and that is normal, but it is best to keep it to ourselves unless we have a compliment. I find it so important to compliment as many people as possible, strangers too. You never know when someone is having a bad day, and I know random polite compliments from people can put a smile on someone's face. Accountability and communication are two other values I take seriously within my life. I am quite stubborn, so it can be hard for me to hold myself accountable at times, but it is a skill I have become quite familiar with over time. Saying how we feel to others, respectfully, is also important because nobody is a mind reader! I tell this to the children I work with every day.

Connection

    https://www.motivationalinterviewing.org/sites/default/files/valuescardsort_0.pdf

This guy I follow on TikTok posted this video awhile ago about how important it is to align values in a relationship. He recommended these value cards to look over with a partner an determine which ones you share. I like that these cards have blanks to write down extra values you may have, and I also like that there is little definitions under each value card. These could be a really good YDEV exercise too!