Comments on: How NOT to Figure Out Your Values http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/how-not-to-figure-out-your-values Committees exist to share blame. Mon, 14 May 2012 18:24:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kyla http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/how-not-to-figure-out-your-values/comment-page-1#comment-71434 Kyla Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:56:45 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/?p=4391#comment-71434 So I take it this was your secret purpose for those questions? My problem with it is similar to Don's: it's a positive feedback loop. If you exhibit one value more than the others, you'll work on exhibiting that one value more. By this logic it means that that value is now even more important to you, so you should focus on it <i>more</i> etc. And then you end up a bad-tv-character version of yourself. So I take it this was your secret purpose for those questions?

My problem with it is similar to Don’s: it’s a positive feedback loop. If you exhibit one value more than the others, you’ll work on exhibiting that one value more. By this logic it means that that value is now even more important to you, so you should focus on it more etc. And then you end up a bad-tv-character version of yourself.

]]> By: Jared http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/how-not-to-figure-out-your-values/comment-page-1#comment-71432 Jared Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:52:36 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/?p=4391#comment-71432 Hmm, that's a very good point: I hadn't noticed the glaring circularity. :) I see two ways out: <ul> <li>The self-help books are not telling you to <em>live</em> your values, which you're already doing, they're telling you to be <em>mindful</em> of your values, perhaps to increase your consistency</li> <li>You really are supposed to choose your aspirational values rather than the (apparently inferior) values you currently are following</li> </ul> Hmm, that’s a very good point: I hadn’t noticed the glaring circularity. :) I see two ways out:

  • The self-help books are not telling you to live your values, which you’re already doing, they’re telling you to be mindful of your values, perhaps to increase your consistency
  • You really are supposed to choose your aspirational values rather than the (apparently inferior) values you currently are following
]]> By: Don http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/how-not-to-figure-out-your-values/comment-page-1#comment-71431 Don Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:10:27 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/?p=4391#comment-71431 <OL> <LI>Observe myself - what I <I>do</I> - to discover what values I am actually living by.</LI> <LI>Write down those values in a list.</LI> <LI>Use self-help books to help me live by those values.</LI> <LI>I am now able to live by my values, which I know are my values because I already observed myself living by them.</LI> </OL> Am I misunderstanding this?
  • Observe myself – what I do – to discover what values I am actually living by.
  • Write down those values in a list.
  • Use self-help books to help me live by those values.
  • I am now able to live by my values, which I know are my values because I already observed myself living by them.

    • Am I misunderstanding this?

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