A Journey Worth Taking

Have you ever felt like life is pulling you in different directions —between work and family, obligations and desires, or even just the endless stream of day-to-day decisions? Imagine if you had a compass that always pointed you toward what truly matters.

The good news is, you do! That compass is your personal values, and they act as riverbanks for your life to flow within. Without them, it’s easy to feel lost or overwhelmed—with them, things can feel more intentional and aligned.

This blog post will show you how to reconnect with your values, live authentically, and feel confident navigating life’s twists and turns.

Let's dive in!

Personal Values Matter

Values aren’t just abstract ideas or some kind of ideal; they’re the foundation of a meaningful life. They define your priorities, point you toward your purpose, and influence your relationships.

Our needs and personal values can serve as riverbanks, guiding the flow of our lives. When we value something that doesn’t align with our needs, we feel off course. Similarly, when we go against our values, we feel stagnant, experience stress, overwhelm, anxiety, or even depression (maybe all at once, or maybe one at a time).

Consider someone who values connection but never makes time for loved ones might feel isolated or unfulfilled. Similarly, if you value creativity but your daily routine leaves no room for expression, frustration builds. Recognizing these gaps is the first step to realigning with what’s important.

The Role of Yoga in Values Alignment

Awareness is at the foundation of change in the yogic tradition. Principles like ahimsa (non-harm) and satya (truth) encourage us to live authentically and in alignment with our values. When we practice these principles, we are free to make choices that reflect our deepest priorities and meet our needs—free from doubt or guilt.

When your actions align with your values, life feels purposeful and fulfilling. But when there’s a disconnect, it can create tension, leading to stress, overwhelm, or even burnout.

Ready to uncover your core values? Here’s a simple exercise:

Identify Personal Values Activity:

This practice is meant to be light and fun, so try to release expectations and simply see what arises. You can always revisit it as your values—and you—evolve over time.

You likely have many sets of values in your life: family values, business values, or even community values (see Home + Yoga's below!). For the exercise, tune into your body and focus on what feels deeply personal to you.

⏲️I recommend setting aside 10–15 quiet minutes for this exercise.

Ready?

Begin with 4 deep breaths to settle and arrive.

1. Reflect and Choose: Use this list of 101 personal values, circle or write down 10–20 values that resonate with you. Let your intuition lead.
2. Circle or write down 10–20 values that resonate most with you. Let your body guide the process—how does it feel as you reflect on each value?
3. Narrow Your Focus: From your list, identify your top five values. These are your guiding principles or riverbanks.
4. Observe and Adjust: Over the next few days, notice how these values show up in your life. Are your actions aligned with them? Where can you make adjustments?

Examples for living into your values:

• If one of your values is creativity, you might set aside time for art, writing, or brainstorming new ideas. Start small with just 5 or 10 minutes a few times a week and build upon it as you regain your creative flow.
• If you value connection, you could prioritize meaningful conversations with loved ones. Schedule that coffee date, join or start a book club. Call your mom or dad to check in.
• If growth resonates with you, you might seek out learning opportunities or challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone. Try new things like join a yoga community!

If this work has taught me anything, its that trust our inner guidance, doing what we love (value) provides the energy to show up for ourselves and others.

Flow With Intention

I invite you to pay attention to how aligning with your values impacts your choices, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. You might be surprised by the clarity, ease and fulfillment it brings.

When your values align with your actions, life feels lighter, clearer, and more authentic. You no longer feel pulled or like drifting aimlessly but flowing with purpose.

Deeper Exploration Awaits

Want to dive deeper? Schedule a private yoga therapy session to explore your values and needs in a supportive space. These sessions are deeply nourishing and can help you uncover insights and obstacles and take actionable steps toward living more authentically.

Home + Yoga Community Values

P.S. Whenever you're ready, Home Yoga Therapy can help you in 3 ways:

1. Join the Home + Yoga Community 3 live online yoga classes each week, access to library of recorded practices, ALIGN Moon Rituals, and personalized support.
2. Yoga Therapy thoughtful discussions and mindful practices will foster change, balance, and well-being in body, mind, and spirit.
3. Subscribe to Newsletter Join Mandy's email list below and get updates on new blog articles and upcoming events.

The after-blog: A personal note on my core values

Over the last decade, I’ve been honing my values and they now form the foundation of Home Yoga Therapy. These values guide my life, my teaching, and my business. Here's a few and how they show up, in no particular order:

Inclusion + Collaboration
I call this co-creation. Nothing unsettles me more than perceiving that someone has been left out or unseen. I truly believe that when we come together and hold space for one another we create something extraordinarily healing.

• Each class and session with me is a co-creation—the energy we bring together creates the magic. This means I show up without hidden agenda's or expectations for you or our time together, encouraging you to show up exactly as you are.

Growth
Meaningful, purpose-driven goals keep me grounded and focused—perhaps it’s my Capricorn nature (like a mountain goat scaling heights), but I thrive with clear purpose.

• My commitment is studentship, learning and evolving alongside you, not authority or power-over.

Responsibility
For me, responsibility means taking care of myself as a way to contribute to my community. It’s about showing up when I say I will and shifting from “Who’s going to do it?” to “Why not me?” and apologizing when I've gotten it wrong.

• As your teacher, I hold space with integrity, ensuring that my actions align with my mission to create a safe and supportive space.

These are a few values on my compass that guide my decisions and how I show up in the world. I don’t always get it right—I sometimes find myself spilling over my riverbanks or becoming stagnant. At times like these, I try to remember to have self-compassion. We are allowed to fluctuate, to experience periods of waxing and waning, flow and restoration.

I hope sharing some of mine helps you dive deeper into your own values and gives you a sense of my approach to life and teaching. Questions? Email me at mandy@homeandyoga.com. I'd love to hear from you.

With warmth,
Mandy