Many successful Bamboo Farmers I speak with have defined values to help guide their decisions. As I wrote in my book, Water the Bamboo, our values are like the roots of bamboo. Bamboo can grow tall, but without roots, it will fall over.
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”
Choosing Values
Keep in mind that goals are not values. Many people wrongly believe that if they reach a goal they will be happy. But that could not be further from the truth. Values are what guide us through the good times and the bad times. Values center us. They are our north star.
It is important that you know and understand your top five values. It helps you define what’s most important to you. If you value everything, it means you value nothing.
What do YOU care about most?
Chapter 1 of my book, Water the Bamboo, is about values because a Bamboo Farmer must know who they are and what they care about before they embark on a Bamboo Journey.
Below are just a few examples of Values to get you started.
Health
Family
Appreciation
Beauty
Flexibility
Kindness
Honor
Humor
Security
Responsibility
Taking Action
Once you determine your top five values, take a “tiny action” (a low cost action that can be implemented right away) that supports the chosen value.
For example, if one of your values is Health a “tiny action” you could implement would be:
In the next 24 hours, I will drink half my body weight of water in ounces. (e.g. if you weigh 150 lbs, 75 oz of water will be sufficient).
Mind the Gap
It does us no good to have values without taking action around these values. Think about what you say your values are and what actions you take--that’s the gap.
So mind the gap. What small actions can you take today towards your values?
The Secret to Happiness
As my grandfather told me as a child, “happy people like what’s happening.”
In other words, once you like what is happening in your life, you will be happier. That means your habits, actions, and interactions will determine how happy you are at any given moment.
Knowing your values is important, but it’s only half of the equation. The tiny actions you take every single day towards your values are what will make you a successful Bamboo Farmer.
This post is based on a podcast episode by Greg Bell.
Listen below for the full episode: