So, I’m eager to share my current life season’s goals (as part of the prep for my potential schedule), but before I can go there, I need to share with you my core values. This also serves as a response to Notecard 12.10.2016 – Thoughts on Happiness and Purpose. Here’s the content of the card:
- Happiness is not a second order event premised on something else occurring first. It’s a first order event that happens when you live your truth.
- The end of man is to glorify God and/by enjoy/enjoying Him forever.
- God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied by Him.
- I suspect a person is happiest when seeking the glory of God.
- Therefore, to make much of God is to seek my enjoyment and is to fulfill my purpose
The first bullet is from an article discussing a common early retirement mistake. Basically, Todd Tressider, the author, is suggesting that a lot of people pursue early retirement as a means to avoid a life they do not like, which they have, and acquire a life that they want, but do not have. And this is a mistake if you could make the transition prior to achieving early retirement. I think Todd is right.
We as humans desire happiness and often settle for too little happiness. As C.S. Lewis put it, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
The second bullet is taken from the answer to the first question of the Westminster shorter catechism. The subpoint comes from page 18 of John Piper’s Desiring God. I believe both of these are derived correctly from the Bible and are trustworthy truths.
The third bullet is my conclusion. And it’s based on my experience. I enjoy myself most when I am seeking the glory of God. The subpoint is the total conclusion. With those established, here are my core values/desires/pursuits:
- [Seek to] Know God as God
- Be proud of self
- Serve Hayley
- Be sought for wisdom/Earn the respect of people
- Father children
- Serve my family practically
- Give children a legacy
- Foster positive relationships with friends
- Sleep often
- Check things off a Bucket List
This short list of ten things is a description of a lifelong pursuit from which my goals flow. These Core Value should never change, even though my life goals will change. Also, I listed them in order of perceived importance. The order may change as I age/mature and my priorities shift.
Have you ever composed a list of your core values? If so, why did you? If not, why don’t you – I think you might really enjoy processing and articulating your priorities?
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