Values and Well-being

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “flourish” as “to grow well; to be healthy” and “to be very successful; to do very well”. We suggest that flourishing is built on three pillars: people, power, and perspective. “Perspective” has to do with our vision and direction in life. Good perspective means having a healthy awareness of your thoughts and emotions, and learning to notice and savor the good around you. “People” refers to the central pillar of human flourishing: having positive connections with others. Lastly, “Power” is characterized by engagement with life, living wholeheartedly, and growth.

These definitions are practical and simple, but what does flourishing mean to you on a personal level? Take a moment and answer these questions for yourself: If you were flourishing, what would your life look like? What things do you see yourself doing each day? What would you spend your time on? Who would you spend it with? What things might you put more energy into? What things would you put less energy into? 

As you answer these questions, you might notice that your answers describe the type of person you want to become. In other words, they might describe the values you hold. Focusing on your values has the potential to improve your well-being along each of the three pillars of flourishing. There are two pathways by which your values influence your ability to flourish. First, you can improve your well-being by identifying your values. Second, you can improve your well-being by living your values.

How Identifying Values Can Improve Well-being

There is a growing body of research that suggests that just knowing what type of life you want to live can improve your well-being. One way values do this is through changing how you see and manage discomfort. In one research study, participants were asked to imagine that the acceptance of pain was tied to their most important values (for example, I may tie the acceptance of pain to my values of strength or courage). They were then rated on their pain tolerance level when subjected to a cold press. The researchers found that participants who imagined that acceptance of pain was tied to their own values were able to manage discomfort much better than participants who were just told to accept the pain (Branstletter-Rost et al., 2009).

Let’s think about how this research applies to you. We all experience discomfort and pain in our lives. Take a moment and think of how this may show up for you. It could be managing a stressful job, dealing with difficult children, or fighting through a serious illness. Some people handle these feelings well, while for others these feelings may become unmanageable and lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, or other serious problems. If you are able to manage these challenges well, what gets you through them? Chances are, part of it has to do with the way you wish to live or the person you wish to be. You might continue with a stressful job because you value hard work and perseverance. You might be patient with children because you value strong family relationships. In short, knowing what you value can help you manage the feelings of discomfort and pain, and allow you to live your best life anyway. Going back to the three pillars of flourishing, knowing your values can provide you with a healthy perspective of what is important, and it can give you power to live your life wholeheartedly.

Another study had two groups of participants complete a task designed to stress them out. Prior to the task, one group completed a values affirmation exercise, while the other group did not. The researchers found that the participants who completed the value exercise had a healthier stress response than participants who did not (Cresswell et al., 2005). What does this mean for you? Let’s go back to the uncomfortable and painful experience you imagined earlier. These experiences may also cause you stress. Not only can prolonged stress can lead to physical problems, such as headaches, heart problems, and sleep problems, it can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and lack of motivation. This research suggests that knowing your values helps your body respond better to stress, which may improve your physical and mental health in the long run. 

To summarize, just knowing the type of person you want to be and the kind of life you want to live can have a substantial impact on your physical and mental well-being by influencing your perspective towards life. Having a clear idea of what things are important to you can help you manage discomfort, respond better to stress, and stay on course when you experience challenging situations.