A Fresh Start: Open-minded vs. Values

Friday, October 06, 2006

Open-minded vs. Values

So the other day for my social work class, we were given a sheet of paper with a long list of common values on it. We were told to take this list and use it as a guide to list the values we know we have, then those that we wish we had, and then write our values statement from our personal lists.

One thing that I really value is an open-mind. I really have a hard time when a person tries to share their feelings and are immediately shut down. Whenever I see this happen, my brain goes straight to thinking how selfish they are. Even if you don't agre with what a person is saying, don't automatically come to the defensive, but take the time to understand where they are coming from.

So now that I have expressed my pet-peeve, I must also express my personal concern. Have I come to the point in my life where I am so focused on being open-minded that I am letting go of things that I have always valued?

While looking over the list of suggested/possible values, I noticed that there were some that I felt I used to have, but don't anymore... and it made me sad. They weren't things that don't mean anything to me. They were things I feel I've let slide when perhaps I shouldn't have. This may not make much sense, but to me it gives me much to think about. Am I becoming more of the person I want to be? Or am I not staying as focused on keeping God first in my life? Do I care more about what I want, or about what I feel to be right?

posted by Elizabeth @ 11:28 AM

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