Author: Seth Saunders

In a world that seems to continue to create more chaos, confusion and conflict, it is becoming more important to focus on our values and vision to lead us to victory. Not what the world might determine as a victory with a celebration, trophy and parade but rather victory being defined as accomplishing those goals we have set for ourselves that lead us to greater happiness, success and motivation. We cannot afford to justify or allow negative influences into our lives or we will head down a slippery slope that usually ends in frustration, sadness, anxiety and even depression.

It only has swearing a couple times; the sexual content is not that bad; there is more violence on the late night news; the Supreme Court made a ruling so I must change my beliefs. For many, these and many other statements are used on a regular basis to justify the way in which we live our lives. However, there is no doubt that when we get into a habit of justifying who we are, our beliefs and the decisions we make, we are actually giving up our own ability to be empowered and thus how we live and feel each day. This may not always be the case, but justifying our actions leads to a weakening of our own values, which can have both short- and long-term impacts.

As the world continues to influence the standards of society, it is becoming clear about the direct correlation to the deterioration of individuals, families and communities. As values are being swayed back and forth as a branch on a tree during a windstorm, many are finding their vision being impaired and in turn are either making decisions or seeing others make decisions that cause heartache, sadness and at times anger.

Every individual has the power to decide what their values are. To say that there is only one set of values that all must live by would be in and of itself a huge mistake. Values come from what we have been taught, what we have learned, our beliefs as well as our vision of the future, our goals. There is no question that what we believe and our values will influence others in some way.

With that knowledge, it is crucial to understand that there is a difference between living one’s values and others being influenced by them and pushing one’s values onto others without their wanting them. The key is establishing the values that can be seen with a clear vision, which in turn leads to more personal victories.

How does one go about securing a victory? That depends on the definition of victory. For some, victory means winning a game or a match. For some, it may be overcoming a trial such as a health issue or an addiction, and others may define victory simply as making it through the day.

If you look up the meaning of victory, you will see some type of definition like: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist, achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties.

No matter how one may define victory, it’s something that everyone wants to achieve at some point in their life. In fact, we all will achieve victory or victories throughout our lives. Some we will recognize and others we may not. To help us achieve victory, no matter how we define it, it is important to have two other important items in our life, values and vision.

When you have been able to both identify what your values are and just as important live them every day, you will be able to focus your time and energy on the things that really need your attention. What also happens when you have clearly defined your values, you can then create a solid vision of what you want your future to look like. Having a vision of your future is so important because it can truly help you stay focused on your daily tasks, short-term and long-term goals. Without defined values and a clear vision, it is very difficult to achieve victory. Here are some ways to help one make a connection between these three important words that start with V:

• Understanding the power of living your values. It is impossible to say that there are a certain set of values that every person in the world should have or live by. Cultures are different, people are different, circumstances are different, experiences are different and because of that, values will be different. That said, there is great power in knowing and living your values. Values are what really define us, they are the basis for the decisions we make, they are more often than not how others see us. Once you come to know what your values are and why those are your values, you can then create a vision of your future, a vision that can and should lead to victory.
• Vision is what helps us progress. If you want to achieve a goal, you must first define that goal. You must know what success looks like. A vision is what you see in the future. This may include things such as; graduating, making a team, going to college, serving others, finding a career you are passionate about, being promoted, completing a major project, etc. These are all things that are down the road, it is not something that you can achieve in a day or even a week. It will take a determined and focused approach to bring your vision to reality. Your values will directly influence your vision. Thus, you can see why knowing and living your values is so important.
• The best way to achieve victory is through your values. There is no predefined measurement of what victory means as it is determined by the individual. When you have made the conscious decision to let your values guide you, you free up your ability to take the necessary action to achieve success.  You will have to work for it, it won’t just happen.

When you have established your values and defined your vision, you will then set yourself up to achieve victory on a more consistent basis. What is very interesting is that when you do some research about values and vision, you will notice quickly that it is all about consistency. You cannot say you value integrity and then mislead others or cheat your organization. It will come back to haunt you.

If you are consistent in living your values, you eliminate the clutter and chaos that might cloud your vision. Just like when eye drops are used to improve one’s vision, values play that same role. Only then can the necessary goals be created that can determine our victories. As the great coach Vince Lombardi said, “success demands singleness of purpose.”

GO BE A HERO!