The lens to understand.

I have taught the Values lesson so many times, and it continues to be one of the most powerful lessons both for myself and for those who trust me enough to walk through it with me.

The more clarity I gain on my own values, the more clarity I see in those I love and work with walking in their values, the more we all choose to walk in our values and seek to understand one another through the lens of our values, the more I am convinced it changes everything.

We aren’t supposed to think the same way, agree on everything, or have the same way of living or reaching a destination.

There will always be times at work and in our personal lives when we struggle to understand where someone is coming from, how they could think the way they think, or we simply can’t agree on how to do something.

Our definitions of what is right will always be different.

Thank goodness! I think we would be way worse off if we all thought the same thing.

By understanding ourselves and seeking to understand others through the lens of our values and theirs, we can bring humanity back into those hard conversations. To stand with people not on issues, as Carlos Whittaker says.

I want you living into and honoring your values.

And I want to live into and honor my values.

When we do that, turn toward one another, remember that we have more in common than we don’t, we can walk through disagreement together, at least. 

We may never agree on issues.

We can agree, though, that we are both humans trying to navigate this mess of a world, that we both have value and when we live into that value and from our values, the world is a bit more courageous.

How could the lens of values help you navigate a tough situation you have in your life right now?