Core Values (They’re more important than most people think.)

Values. They are our foundation, our roots. They are as unique as our fingerprints and are an intrinsic part of who we are. They govern us; they guide us. They define who we are at our core and what is important to us. Given all of this, how can you possibly develop a plan perfectly suited to you until you know what you want, and more importantly, what you want to protect?Values drive us more than we know, so defining them is of the utmost importance to estate planning (if you want to get it right). There’s a great exercise to help pinpoint and isolate your core values. Let’s explore it.Think back to peak experiences you have had; times when you were firing on all cylinders; times when you were in the zone. Can you think of examples like this? Examples of times you felt like you “really got it right.” What was happening in that situation? You were likely honouring your core values in some way; whether they were loyalty, competition, teamwork, faith, etc. Oftentimes people will suggest you narrow down your core values in a list, but that can be a difficult way to really pinpoint them. Experiences—experiences are the way you isolate core values and the emotions you felt during those experiences.When your planning (and life in general) aligns with your core values, magic happens. And for that matter, dissonance occurs when you are acting in violation to a value you hold dear.There’s an entire universe of values, but some are so cardinal, so enshrined in who we are that it is critical we let them guide our planning if we want to protect what truly matters to us. Understanding your core values and allowing them to dictate your planning will bring a level of clarity you won’t believe.