Every moment of every day, whether you realize it or not, you decide where to direct your energy. Values are how you want to spend this time: What you want to do with your life and who you want to be.

Unlike goals that can be checked off a list, values represent the direction you want to be headed. For example, if you're traveling east, you never arrive at "east." Similarly, if one of your values is to be honest in relationships, you don't have a single frank conversation with a friend and call it a day; instead, you can always continue to work toward being open and forthcoming in relationships. Getting clear on your values will help you understand the person you are and the person you aspire to be.

If values and goals are not the same thing, how do they relate? Your values are the overall direction you want to be headed. Goals are outcomes that can be achieved on the path toward your values.

For example, if one of........

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