The Wellspring: Possessed vs. Professed Values
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Wellspring! Today, we’re diving deeper into the topic of possessed versus professed values. This isn’t just about words—it’s about truth, personal growth, decision-making, and your overall well-being.
We talk a good game about what we value. Honesty, hard work, family time—these are the banners we wave. But, do our actions back it up? If not, this misalignment is a roadblock, stalling your goals and eroding your standards.
Let’s examine God’s word to see what He has to say about living in spirit and truth:
Matthew 15:8 says, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Words are cheap. Your values aren’t what you say; they’re what you do.
And according to James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Your actions are the real testament of your values and beliefs.
Finally, Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Guard your true values. They drive everything.
Professed Values are the values we claim to hold. They often reflect what we think we should value or what we want others to believe about us. We might profess honesty, hard work, or family time.
Possessed Values, on the other hand, are the values that truly guide our behavior. They are revealed by our consistent actions and choices, even when no one is watching. If we say we value family time but always choose work, our real value might be career advancement.
Research backs this up. Actions speak louder than words. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found behavior is a better predictor of values than self-reports1. Another study in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that alignment between personal values and work environment boosts job satisfaction and performance2.
What are the benefits of aligning Possessed and Professed Values?
Increased Integrity: Living according to your true values fosters integrity and consistency.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Clear values streamline your choices.
Greater Fulfillment: Aligning actions with values leads to a more purposeful life.
Improved Relationships: Consistency in values and actions builds trust.
What are some practical steps to identify and align your values?
Reflect on Past Experiences: Recall moments of fulfillment. What values were in play? Consider times of distress. What values were compromised?
Identify Role Models: Who do you admire? What values do they embody?
List Your Values: Write down values you hold dear: honesty, compassion, integrity, growth, and faith.
Define Your Values: Write what each value means and how it shows up in your life.
Prioritize Your Values: Trim to your top 5-7 values. Rank by significance.
Assess Alignment: Check how your actions align with these values. Where do you need to adjust?
Reflection Questions:
What moments brought me joy and satisfaction? What values were honored?
When have I felt conflicted? What values were compromised?
Who are my role models, and what values do they embody?
What values do I prioritize in life?
Regularly revisit your values and reflect. Adjust as needed to stay aligned.
Identify and embrace your core values to live a life of intention and fulfillment grounded in what truly matters.
Take time today to reflect on your core values and align your actions with your deepest beliefs.
Thanks for reading.
As always, in Christ, engage, adapt, and overcome.
Remy Sharpe
Bardi, A., & Schwartz, S. H. (2003). Values and behavior: Strength and structure of relations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 231-247.
Kristof-Brown, A. L., Zimmerman, R. D., & Johnson, E. C. (2005). Consequences of individuals' fit at work: A meta-analysis of person-job, person-organization, person-group, and person-supervisor fit. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 680-695.