Values

I believe that the majority of our values are cultivated by our parents, siblings, and family members, as they spend the best of your first 18 years with you. Most people have various "second homes" at their best friend's houses so that could be a place that values develop. If school is a place where children feel at home, teachers or principles can have an impact on growth and value formation as well.

I think where values come from is undoubtedly important, however, I think the strength of instillment to the point that these values can hold on through 21 years is far more important. Sometimes we do forget what we stand for and who we are in the midst of schoolwork, work, petty drama, but at the end of the day it is important to be able to go to bed and say that you, and your values, were present in everything that was done.

 I am very bad about dedicating time to myself if there are other things that need to be done. I love deadlines, even though I procrastinate sometimes. I love being busy because it makes me feel like I am doing something with my life. I think that for me, my values are renewed when I make time for myself to reflect. I really love to drive. It clears my head like none other when I hold the wheel and just go, sometimes in silence,  sometimes listening to music that forces me to get some tears out. When I am truly alone, my values come back into focus. Who I am and what I stand for is clear. When I reflect on what I value, I can again work towards achieving tasks that align with my values, which also align with my organizations values. Sometimes it takes completely removing myself from the day to day to truly take  in life; I used to think that was time that could be used studying. I now know that is time that I need to keep me sane!

This week: I commit to GIVING MYSELF A BREAK! geesh. I have been sick for 8 days and counting and I'm really tired of laying in bed. I am ready to enjoy life and take a me vacation.

Becoming a Change Agent

The most important C to becoming a change agent, in my opinion, is consciousness of self.

Consciousness of self seems to sometimes be confused with "confidence IN self"; although they can and do ultimately work together, they are not one in the same and can sometimes work against each other. Confidence IN self is  just that- you are confident in your beliefs and values, you believe in the character that you hold yourself to and that you portray to other people, and you stand by who you are when tested (and tested..and tested..).  Consiousness of self, however, is the foundation for all of the other C's to be built on.

To define change in a top down manner, as the Seven C model challenges us to do, those trying to create change must be aware of as well as comfortable with the aspects of their individual identity. In the process of inspiring change, the individual is the first thing that is challenged. Your character is torn apart by those who are afraid of change. Your values are criticized and thrown in your face as soon as you gain your footing. You fall to the point where you ask yourself, who am I- am I really what they all say? When I reached that point, I listened to Fly by Nikki Minaj (its awesome. seriously. listen.) and said no. I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise, to fly.

If you are not consious of your individual as well as consious of how you act while you are acting, none of the other C's carry any weight. You cant maintain actions that are consistant with conviction if you don't know the true and deeper WHY behind either of the above. You can't inspire a common purpose in others if you aren't confident in your own purpose, both within and outside of the organization. You can't handle controversy with civility if you aren't able to take feedback, analyze the meaningful kind, and throw out the hateful kind. You can be committed but you can't commit your entire being; you can be a citizen but you can't fully share your identity with those who share your world if you aren't even fully aware of your identity.

The fact that I believe consiousness of self is the most important element of change makes the jury sometimes say "youre selfish" or "youre making this about you". Funny thing is, this was never, EVER solely about me. If I made decisions for me, you bet your butt I would be out of this office quicker than you could blink. The consiousness that I have brought to myself holds that there are women that can and will be better. I will show them the way.