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Values and beliefs
Do You Know What Your Personal Values Are? This free values and
beliefs Work Book will take you through a process to elicit and
document your values. By following a clear process and worked
examples you will quickly be able to articulate what is important to you
and why. A link to the work book will be immediately emailed to you. – A
smart tool for people who are serious about personal growth.
The importance of values and beliefs
By discovering your core values you will gain a valuable understanding
of just who you are and what makes you tick – I feel this is a very
important aspect of personal growth. This can be further enhanced by
asking yourself – “what new values would be useful to me at this time in
my life – to enable me to get where I want to go?” By discovering your
values you can begin to resolve the hidden conflicts in your life, remove
stress and give yourself more direction.
And we all have beliefs too, things we believe we can do and things we
believe we can’t. The fact is – what you believe, tends to happen – so it
is far more productive to believe you can – and then just do it!
I believe that we all have core values; whether we know it or not. When
these values and beliefs are compromised we tend to feel bad and
when we are living our lives in-line with those values we tend to feel
more comfortable and more in control. We all have secondary values
too, values that can be appropriate for a certain amount of time, ones
that we can bring to the fore as required as the events in our lives
unfold. For example; you may want to increase your courage as you
start a new job – or you may want to promote your value of “availability”
when you have a young family.
Eliciting your values is not easy, but it is beneficial; remember values
are ways of being that mean something important to you. When you
know what your values are (and they are in order of importance)
decision making becomes far easier – as you just follow your values.
In my experience it is very useful to become the type of person who
moves towards solutions rather than away from problems, because
often the quickest way to find a solution is just to charge right at it,
rather than pussy-footing around getting all anxious and fretful. Once
your unconscious mind can see your clear list of values and can
recognise that achieving these will be good for you, somehow, it just
takes you forward. Of course, there will be ups and downs, but at least
you will have a map reminding you of what is important to you. Take
your time with this – it may take a week or it might take a month, either
way it is worth the effort. Self Awareness, this goes hand-in-hand with
developing your beliefs and values – read more about Self awareness
here.
Christianity (from the Ancient Greek translation Χριστός, Christos of
the Hebrew ‫ַ יחִׁשָמ‬, Mašíaḥ, meaning "the anointed one"[1] and the Latin
suffixes ian and -itas) is a monotheistic[2] religion based on the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament.
Christianity is the world's largest religion,[3][4] with approximately
2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians.[5][6][7][8] Most Christians
believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, and
the savior of humanity prophesied in the Old Testament.
Consequentially, Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.
The foundations of Christian theology are expressed in ecumenical
creeds that are accepted by followers of the Christian faith. These
professions state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and was
resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who
believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds
further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he
reigns with God the Father. Most denominations teach that Jesus will
return to judge all humans, living and dead, and to grant eternal life to
his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life. His ministry,
crucifixion, and resurrection are often referred to as the gospel,
meaning "Good News" (a loan translation of the Greek:
εὐαγγέλιον euangélion). The term gospel also refers to written accounts
of Jesus's life and teaching, four of which—the Gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John—are considered canonical and are included in the
Christian Bible.
Christianity is an Abrahamic religion that began as a Jewish sect in the
mid-1st century.[9][10] Originating in the Levant region of the Middle
East, it quickly spread to Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and Egypt. It
grew in size and influence over a few centuries, and by the end of the
4th century had become the official state church of the Roman Empire,
replacing other forms of religion practiced under Roman rule.[11] During
the Middle Ages, most of the remainder of Europe was Christianized,
with Christians also being a sometimes large religious minority in the
Middle East, North Africa, Ethiopia and parts of India.[12][13] Following
the Age of Discovery, Christianity spread to the Americas, Australasia,
sub-Saharan Africa, and the rest of the world through missionary work
and colonization.[14][15][16] Christianity has played a prominent role in
the shaping of Western civilization.[17][18][19][20][21]
Worldwide, the three largest groups of Christianity are the Catholic
Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the various denominations
of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
patriarchates split from one another in the schism of the 11th century,
and Protestantism came into existence during the Reformation of the
16th century, splitting from the Roman Catholic Church.[22]
Buddhism is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that
encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based
on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly
known as the Buddha, meaning "the awakened one". The Buddha lived
and taught in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent sometime
between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.[1] He is recognized by
Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened teacher who shared his
insights to help sentient beings end their suffering (dukkha) through the
elimination of ignorance (avidyā) by way of understanding and the
seeing of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and the elimination
of desire (taṇhā), and thus the attainment of the cessation of all
suffering, known as the sublime state of nirvāņa.[2]
Two major branches of Buddhism are generally recognized: Theravada
("The School of the Elders") and Mahayana ("The Great Vehicle").
Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
(Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc.). Mahayana is found
throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore,
Taiwan etc.) and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren
Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, and Tiantai (Tendai). In some
classifications, Vajrayana—practiced mainly in Tibet and Mongolia, and
adjacent parts of China and Russia—is recognized as a third branch,
while others classify it as a part of Mahayana.
While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia and India, both
branches are now found throughout the world. Estimates of Buddhists
worldwide vary significantly depending on the way Buddhist adherence
is defined. Estimates range from 350 million to 1.6 billion, with 350–550
million the most widely accepted figure. Buddhism is also recognized as
one of the fastest growing religions in the world.[3][4][5][6]
Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the
importance and canonicity of various teachings and scriptures, and
especially their respective practices.[7] The foundations of Buddhist
tradition and practice are the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma
(the teachings), and the Sangha (the community). Taking "refuge in the
triple gem" has traditionally been a declaration and commitment to
being on the Buddhist path, and in general distinguishes a Buddhist
from a non-Buddhist.[8] Other practices may include following ethical
precepts; support of the monastic community; renouncing conventional
living and becoming a monastic; the development of mindfulness and
practice of meditation; cultivation of higher wisdom and discernment;
study of scriptures; devotional practices; ceremonies; and in the
Mahayana tradition, invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Hinduism is the dominant religion[1][2] of the Indian subcontinent,
particularly of India and Nepal. It includes Shaivism, Vaishnavism,
Smartism among numerous other traditions, and a wide spectrum of
laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on karma, dharma, and
societal norms. Hinduism is a categorisation of distinct intellectual or
philosophical points of view, rather than a rigid, common set of
beliefs.[3]
Hinduism consists of many diverse traditions and has no single
founder.[4] Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron
Age India.[5] As such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest
religion"[6][7][8] or "oldest living religion" in the world.[1][9][10][11] Since
Vedic times, a process of Sanskritization has been taking place, in
which "people from many strata of society throughout the subcontinent
tended to adapt their religious and social life to Brahmanic norms".[12]
Hindu texts are classified into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti
("remembered"). These texts discuss theology, philosophy, mythology,
Vedic yajna and agamic rituals and temple building, among other
topics.[5] Major scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas,
Mahabharata, Ramayana, Manusmriti, Bhagavad Gita and Agamas.[5]
Hinduism, with about one billion followers[13] is the world's third largest
religion, after Christianity and Islam.
Islam (/ˈɪslɑːm/;[note 1] Arabic: ‫اإل س الم‬, al-ʾIslām IPA: [ælʔɪsˈlæːm] (
listen)[note 2]) is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the
Qur'an, a book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of
God (Arabic: ‫ هللا‬Allāh) and by the teachings and normative example
(called the Sunnah and composed of Hadith) of Muhammad, considered
by them to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a
Muslim.
Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of
existence is to submit to and serve God.[1] Muslims also believe that
Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was
revealed at many times and places before, including through Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, whom they consider prophets.[2]
They maintain that the previous messages and revelations have been
partially misinterpreted or altered over time,[3] but consider the Arabic
Qur'an to be both the unaltered and the final revelation of God.[4]
Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which
are basic concepts and obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic
law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society,
providing guidance on multifarious topics from banking and welfare, to
warfare and the environment.[5][6]
Most Muslims are of two denominations, Sunni (75–90%),[7] or Shia
(10–20%).[8] About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia,[9] the largest
Muslim-majority country, 25% in South Asia,[9] 20% in the Middle
East,[10] and 15% in Sub-saharan Africa.[11] Sizable minorities are also
found in Europe, China, Russia, and the Americas. Converts and
immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world (see
Islam by country). With about 1.57 billion followers or 23% of earth's
population,[11][12][13] Islam is the second-largest religion and one of the
fastest-growing religions in the world.[14][15][16][17][18][19]
Judaism (from the Latin Iudaismus, derived from the Greek Ἰουδαϊσμός,
and ultimately from the Hebrew ‫ִׁהודה‬, Yehudah, "Judah";[1][2] in
Hebrew: ‫ִׁהדות‬, Yahadut, the distinctive characteristics of the Judean
ethnos)[3] is the religion, philosophy and way of life of the Jewish
people.[4] Judaism is a monotheistic religion, with its foundational text,
the Torah (also known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and
supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the
Mishnah and the Talmud. Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be
the expression of the covenantal relationship God established with the
Children of Israel.[5]
Judaism includes a wide corpus of texts, practices, theological positions,
and forms of organization. Within Judaism there are a variety of
movements, most of which emerged from Rabbinic Judaism, which
holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on
Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.[6]
Historically, this assertion was challenged by various groups such as
the Sadducees and Hellenistic Judaism during the Second Temple
period; the Karaites and Sabbateans during the early and later medieval
period;[7] and among segments of the modern reform movements.
Liberal movements in modern times such as Humanistic Judaism may
be nontheistic.[8] Today, the largest Jewish religious movements are
Orthodox Judaism (Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodox Judaism),
Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. Major sources of
difference between these groups are their approaches to Jewish law,
the authority of the Rabbinic tradition, and the significance of the State
of Israel.[9] Orthodox Judaism maintains that the Torah and Jewish law
are divine in origin, eternal and unalterable, and that they should be
strictly followed. Conservative and Reform Judaism are more liberal,
with Conservative Judaism generally promoting a more "traditional"
interpretation of Judaism's requirements than Reform Judaism. A typical
Reform position is that Jewish law should be viewed as a set of general
guidelines rather than as a set of restrictions and obligations whose
observance is required of all Jews.[10][11] Historically, special courts
enforced Jewish law; today, these courts still exist but the practice of
Judaism is mostly voluntary.[12] Authority on theological and legal
matters is not vested in any one person or organization, but in the
sacred texts and rabbis and scholars who interpret them.[13]
Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning more than 3,000 years.
Judaism has its roots as a structured religion in the Middle East during
the Bronze Age.[14] Of the major world religions, Judaism is considered
one of the oldest monotheistic religions.[15][16] The Hebrews / Israelites
were already referred to as "Jews" in later books of the Tanakh such as
the Book of Esther, with the term Jews replacing the title "Children of
Israel".[17] Judaism's texts, traditions and values strongly influenced
later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i
Faith.[18][19] Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly
influenced secular Western ethics and civil law.[20]
Jews are an ethnoreligious group[21] and include those born Jewish and
converts to Judaism. In 2012, the world Jewish population was
estimated at about 14 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world
population.[22] About 42% of all Jews reside in Israel and about 42%
reside in the United States and Canada, with most of the remainder
living in Europe, and other minority groups spread throughout the world
in South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.[23]
Sikhism, or known in Punjabi as Sikhi,[note 1] (/ˈsiːkɨzəm/ or /ˈsɪkɨzəm/;
Punjabi: ਸਸਸਸਸ, sikkhī, IPA: [ˈsɪkːʰiː]) is a monotheistic religion
founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian
subcontinent, by Guru Nanak[3] and continued to progress through the
ten successive Sikh gurus (the last guru being the holy scripture Guru
Granth Sahib). It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world, with
approximately 30 million adherents.[4][5] Adherents of Sikhism are
known as Sikhs (students or disciples). The word Sikhi refers to the
system of religious philosophy, duties, and expression and is also
commonly known as Gurmat.[6] Gurmat means literally 'wisdom of the
Guru' and is the contrast to Manmat, the self-centered judgement of the
individual. Punjab, India is the only state in the world with a majority
Sikh population.
Sikhism is a spiritual, social, and political system of beliefs which
considers spiritual life and secular life to be intertwined[7] Guru Nanak,
the first Sikh Guru established the system of the Langar, or free kitchen,
designed to safehold equality between all people and express the ethics
of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind.[8]
In addition to sharing with others Guru Nanak inspired earning/making a
living honestly without exploitation or fraud and also exhilarated the
need of profound meditation on God's name or qualities. Guru Nanak
described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness,
fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than a purely
contemplative life.[9]. Guru Arjan, the 5th Sikh Guru compiled the first of
two renderations of the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Hargobind, the 6th
Sikh Guru, established the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri)
realms to be mutually coexistent.[10]
According to the 9th Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadhur, the ideal Sikh should
have both Shakti (power that resides in the temporal), and Bhakti
(spiritual meditative qualities). Finally the concept of the baptized Saint
Soldier of the Khalsa was formed by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh in
1699 at Anandpur Sahib.[11] Sikhs are expected to embody the qualities
of a "Sant-Sipāhī"—a saint-soldier. Which means to love God, meditate
on God, keep God in the heart, feel God's nearness and also be strong,
courageous and ready to fight to protect weak people from cruel unjust
attackers.[12][13] Sikhs are expected to have control over one's internal
vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the
Guru Granth Sahib.