Toward and Away From Values: Understanding Their Origins and Importance

Values are the guiding principles that shape our decisions, behaviors, and ultimately, our lives. Tony Robbins, a renowned life coach and motivational speaker, emphasizes the importance of understanding our values, especially distinguishing between “toward” and “away from” values. This distinction helps us navigate our lives more effectively, fostering personal growth and professional success. Let’s explore what toward and away from values are, where they come from, and why they matter.

Understanding Toward and Away From Values

Toward Values

Toward values are the positive states and outcomes we strive to achieve. They represent our aspirations and what we genuinely desire in life. These values drive us toward goals that bring us joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Common toward values include love, success, health, happiness, and growth.

Away From Values

Away from values, on the other hand, are the negative states and outcomes we seek to avoid. They stem from our fears and aversions, compelling us to steer clear of experiences that cause discomfort, pain, or dissatisfaction. Typical away from values include fear, failure, rejection, conflict, and stress.

Origins of Values

Values are shaped by a variety of factors, including:

1. Family and Upbringing: The environment we grow up in plays a significant role in shaping our values. Parents, guardians, and family members impart their beliefs and values, consciously or unconsciously, influencing our own.
2. Cultural and Societal Influences: The culture and society we live in contribute to our value system. Cultural norms, traditions, and societal expectations can shape what we consider important and desirable.
3. Personal Experiences: Life experiences, both positive and negative, significantly impact our values. Successes and achievements can strengthen our toward values, while failures and setbacks can intensify our away from values.
4. Education and Mentorship: Education and influential mentors or role models can shape our values by providing new perspectives and guiding us toward certain beliefs and principles.
5. Self-Reflection and Personal Development: Engaging in self-reflection and personal development activities allows us to consciously evaluate and refine our values, aligning them with our true desires and aspirations.

Why Toward and Away From Values Matter

Understanding and balancing toward and away from values is crucial for several reasons:

1. Clarity and Focus: Recognizing our toward values helps us set clear and meaningful goals, providing direction and focus in our lives. Away from values alert us to potential pitfalls, helping us navigate challenges more effectively.
2. Motivation and Drive: Toward values act as powerful motivators, driving us to pursue our dreams and aspirations. They infuse us with energy and passion. Away from values, while they may initially seem negative, also play a critical role by pushing us to avoid complacency and take necessary actions to prevent undesirable outcomes.
3. Decision-Making: Understanding our values aids in making consistent and aligned decisions. When faced with choices, we can evaluate options based on whether they bring us closer to our toward values or help us avoid away from values.
4. Conflict Resolution: Values conflicts can cause internal and external turmoil. By identifying and addressing these conflicts, we can achieve greater harmony within ourselves and in our relationships with others.
5. Personal and Professional Fulfillment: Aligning our actions with our values leads to a more fulfilling and purposeful life. In a professional context, this alignment enhances job satisfaction, employee engagement, and overall organizational culture.

Integrating Toward and Away From Values

To effectively integrate toward and away from values into your life:

1. Identify Your Values: Take time to introspect and list your top toward and away from values. Reflect on what brings you joy and fulfillment and what you want to avoid.
2. Prioritize Your Values: Determine the hierarchy of your values. This helps in making consistent decisions and resolving values conflicts.
3. Set Goals Aligned with Toward Values: Create goals that reflect your toward values. This alignment ensures that your pursuits are meaningful and motivating.
4. Address Away From Values: Acknowledge your away from values and develop strategies to manage them. This could involve setting boundaries, seeking support, or adopting new habits.
5. Regularly Reevaluate: Values can evolve over time. Regularly reassess your values to ensure they align with your current life stage and aspirations.

Understanding toward and away from values is essential for navigating the complexities of life. By recognizing where these values come from and why they matter, we can harness their power to create a more focused, motivated, and fulfilling existence. Whether in personal growth or professional development, integrating these values into our daily lives can lead to greater clarity, purpose, and satisfaction.