Values

This page was written by 28-year-old Rebecca in 2017. It needs an update to reflect current values, but is here for the archives.

Values

Below are five of my core values, each followed by current influences and relevant writings of my own. These lists are by no means exhaustive; I’m influenced by my surroundings each and every day. My family, friends, and teachers have played a large part in who I am today and who I’m becoming.

Growth Mindset

“Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them.” -Elizabeth Gilbert

A growth mindset is the understanding that if I don’t know how to do something now, I can get better with time. Most of our qualities aren’t fixed. Under a fixed mindset, you might tell yourself “I could never draw like that” or “I can’t draw” when looking at a beautiful piece of art. With a growth mindset, however, you would recognize that the artist has spent lots of time building the skill, and instead tell yourself, “My drawing skills aren’t very developed today, but if I spend 10 minutes drawing each day for the next month, my skills will improve.” This is related to my love of learning and continual development. When we do things at the edge of our comfort zone, which we don’t feel “ready” for, that’s when we grow and learn.

Influences:

In My Words:

Kindness

“When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.” -Rachel Naomi Remen

I believe that we should be kind to one another, kind to creatures, and kind to the environment. I’m a Humanist, sharing the belief that we should help each other, practice service within our communities, and solve conflicts with our words by seeking compromise. You never know the battles someone else is fighting, so be kind in everyday moments. Community > competition.

Influences:

In My Words:

Mindfulness

“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” -Mary Oliver

For me, being mindful means being aware and present in everyday moments rather than continuing on autopilot. Why am I acting in this way? Are these actions and thoughts in alignment with my values? It’s a continuous practice which requires much patience and self-love.

Influences:

In My Words:

Gratitude

“Love what you have, and you’ll have more love” –Regina Spektor

When we’re grateful for what we have, our thinking shifts to a place of appreciation and love. I enjoy appreciating small moments of joy in each day and thanking others when possible. Letting others know how they’ve made an impact in our lives—no matter the size—can empower and encourage those people to continue acting in that nature to help more people. Gratitude and kindness ripple out to create exponentially more good in the world.

Influences:

In My Words:

Creativity

“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” -Pablo Picasso

Humans are inherently creative, and it’s a beautiful process. I became aware of how much I was consuming vs. creating in 2014, and put a big focus on creating in 2015. It’s only grown since then, and I see how important creativity is beyond “art.” Of course we can create to play, feed our souls, and make art, yet also to create the world we want to see. Someone created the idea of public libraries. Someone created the idea of CSAs. Someone created Post Secret, Kid President, and Magazine Playground Art Journals.

Inspiration:

In My Words: