Reflaction: Revisiting our values

In this week’s podcast episode we talk about 3 ways our values can impact our self-care, including one that might surprise you! Reflecting on our values as part of our self-care can prove highly beneficial in truly personalizing our self-care plan. And it’s important to remember that, just like other individual factors, values can also change so it’s helpful to revisit our values on a regular basis.

Let’s take a look at how this can play out in relation to values and our work setting.

When I completed my doctoral training almost 30 years ago, I eagerly sought a career in rural psychology. It was a perfect fit for me at the time as I thrived in situations where there was great variety with respect to people, places, and roles. And, as luck would have it, about a year after I graduated, my dream job opened up in a rural psychology program and I was honoured to be offered the position.

I knew from my training that this was an environment in which I could thrive. My position enabled me to travel to various small communities, work with a diverse group of healthcare providers and clients, and also to be actively involved in supervision, consultation, and administrative roles. It was great!

Moving into private practice was always part of my longer-term retirement plan. So, when I was 49 years old, I made the decision to leave the rural position that I loved and open a solo private practice. Recognizing how much I had always appreciated variety, I was delighted to be offered contracts that supplemented my therapy and assessment work with things like supervision, mentorship, training, and even a leadership role. Once again, I would be in my element.

Or so I thought…

As time went on, the pandemic set in, and my family circumstances changed, I realized I too had changed and so did my values and priorities. The variety that used to energize me and the ease with which I could juggle multiple tasks had somehow changed. Although I still enjoyed the work, I was surprised to find it seemed effortful (versus energizing) to divide my time and energy across multiple responsibilities.

Initially I minimized my experiences and tried to convince myself it was simply a phase and that I would soon be back to my “old self.” But as time went on and the data kept accumulating, I had to accept that something had changed. Yep, it was me. And that was okay.

Armed with this newfound knowledge and acceptance, I began to revisit my values and priorities and consider the type of work that would best fit with who I am today. I started paying attention to my energy levels and the type of work that energized me.

Like any good change, it didn’t happen overnight and, in fact, it’s still a work in progress. But with the acceptance and knowledge I’ve gained I’m happy to say that I’m moving towards a practice that is aligned with who I am today, not who I was almost 30 years ago. And that feels great!

Where will your reflactions take you?