The Values List

Creating Your Top 5 Values

Emily Lupita

Apr 25

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Creativity for Caregivers. I’m glad you’re here.

How We’re Doing

Here I am getting a sweet “arm hug” from Charlie. He’s diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, and this causes him to sometimes feel overstimulated from touch, such as hugs. So he’s not always up for a hug. But sometimes he does like for me to let my arm drop over his shoulders and he responds by hugging me backwards with one arm. He also presses his face into mine for some sensory pressure. It’s our own special way of communicating.

Check-In

It’s time for our check-in. Let us know how you’re doing today…

If you want to simply raise your hand and say, “I’m here.” That’s okay, too. Do what feels best. [The Wheel of Emotions post has info on naming feelings.]

How are you doing today?

The Values List

Today’s creative self-care activity is to make our own “Top 5 Values List” sketch. This is an activity to help us identify our current core values - what means the most to us in life.

Having an understanding of what we value in life gives us the power to choose what’s important enough for us to care about. Regardless of our values, when we lose track of them, we lose track of the things that matter most.

This exercise will help you become aware of what you value most so that you can choose to focus more on activities / thoughts that reflect those specific values.

Start by looking at the list of common values below. Circle the five that are most important. Cross out some if you like. It’s natural to want to circle a bunch of values, but by limiting it to only five, we narrow our focus to the values that matter most.

As you look over the list, consider the following:

Deep in your heart, what type of energy do you want in your life?
What are the unchangeable realities of your life as a caregiver that influence your current top values?
What truly matters to you in your everyday life? (As caregivers, our everyday life may be completely different than other people we know.)

*Click on the image below to enlarge it.

Write down your Top 5 Values list on the blank scroll above and draw yourself holding the list. Think about these values as you draw and color in your sketch.

How Was It?

How did this creative self-care activity make you feel? Let me know in the comments.

Lupita Artwork

This is the painting I made from today’s activity.

Lupita sits down to write her Top 5 Values List. She reads over the examples of different values and chooses the five that speak to her most. Then she thinks of all the different aspects of her life and where she devotes her energy throughout the day. She matches up the values with her time spent to make sure it all balances out. She selects her favorite green glasses for this task because this is important business.

What I’m Reading & Watching

Brené Brown’s new book has an HBO series. She talks about identifying language and the importance of words…and so much more.
This “Creativity As A Form of Self-Care” podcast from Family Caregivers of British Columbia.
This short article from Giving Care, “Creativity, Eldercare, and Caregiving: Are they related?”