My Difficult to Narrow Down Values

Nate McIntyre — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 03:52:08 +0000

I found it hard to narrow it down to just five values, but here they are:

Authenticity
Relationships/Connection
Integrity
Creativity
The inherent value of every human being

When I violate authenticity, it’s usually because I hesitate to fully express my feelings (especially in relationships) out of fear of overreacting or being misunderstood. I also tend to mask my true self in social situations when I feel uncomfortable—either by becoming overly goofy or shutting down completely.

When I violate my value of relationships and connection, it often looks like withdrawing when I feel unappreciated, misunderstood, or even lonely and insecure, rather than voicing my needs or reaching out. I also sometimes avoid conflict instead of addressing it directly.

With integrity, there are times when I’m caught between being honest and keeping the peace, and I might choose to avoid conflict rather than speaking up. If I’m being really honest, there have also been moments in my life when I’ve hidden behaviors I’m not proud of.

I love being creative, but when life gets busy, it’s often one of the first things I push to the back burner—and I think that violates this value.

While I deeply believe in the absolute value of all humans—that God loves every person and has created them with unique talents, gifts, and abilities—I can also be judgmental at times and write off people who frustrate or annoy me. Like Nina said last week, when I’m not valuing myself, I also struggle more to value others.

Authenticity – Leadership Cohort

My Difficult to Narrow Down Values