Hierarchy of Values - HoV - From Joe Gerstein - what might I focus on?
Updated: Aug 23, 2021
I might make a list of a thing or feeling or value or person that is important to ME.
A thing I REALLY value.
That I value, want back, want more of, or prefer to have in my life.
I might look in “Physical; Mental; Emotional; Family; Financial; Social;” and anywhere else I might CHOOSE to look.
For the purposes of discussion, here's a sample list, in alphabetical order:
Family
A friend
Happiness
Health
Independence
Self-sufficiency
Well-being
If I have an unhelpful behaviour, something might be missing?
At the top of the list, on the right – opposite ‘A’ is the word ‘Add’
I might put my unhelpful addictive behaviour there e.g. alcohol, drug, gambling, etc.
What thing that I REALLY value might be able to ‘live’ with my ‘Unhelpful Addictive Behaviour?’
Which thing I value, might I gradually lose, or have lost a little over time?
Which thing that I value, might be affected?
By how much?
In what way might this be what I REALLY want to happen?
I might take a moment to write WHY each thing I value is important to me. Why I value it?
What it does for me? Or enables me to do? What it means to me?
When I sit down and really think about what I value most in my life, my PoU - Poison once Used - tends to not be one of them. Each time that I act out, drink, or use, I might be potentially washing a thing or person I really value, away, just a little more - putting them at risk, with the potential of losing them.
How might I begin CHOOSING that thing or person I value a little more instead?
I might decide to sometimes start crossing out a thing I really value – or that thing at ‘Add?’
I might CHOOSE TO cross out the thing at ‘Add’ now, and then look to make a more helpful choice, a little more often.
I might list a thing that I REALLY value, get a bit more helpfully emotional about it, and do a little work on it today.
Awareness is often the beginning of change – PLANNING; PRACTICE; PERSISTENCE; and PATIENCE – especially WITH MY precious SELF – a planned alteration in my behaviour.
Anyone who believes it is easy has OBVIOUSLY not tried it :P
Change, rather than easy, has been shown to be possible.