I was working on developing a framework of understanding about values and how they relate to our beliefs and behaviors. This article tells me someone has thought about this thoroughly, and I am liking it! Good! One less thing to do.

Values-Based Relational Wisdom

Included in this article is a description of 6 relational skills we need to develop. I have not looked at the religious version of this paradigm. Since I love to reach out to people who are not Christian, or even religious in any way, I see this as a helpful bridge. This is also something we want to practice in the community.

“Our values-based paradigm contains no religious language and introduces the relational skills of “values-awareness” and “values-engagement” in place of “God-awareness” and “God-engagement.” The six skills of relational wisdom are described in the following terms.

Values-awareness (remember) is your ability to honestly identify your true personal values.

Values-engagement (faithfulness) is your ability to consistently apply your values in real life.

Self-awareness (humility) is the ability to accurately discern your own emotions, thoughts, values, interests and abilities.

Self-engagement (discipline) is the ability to manage your thoughts, emotions, words and actions constructively.

Other-awareness (compassion) is the ability to understand and empathize with the experiences, emotions, values and interests of others.

Other-engagement (service) is the ability to love, encourage, serve and resolve differences with others in a mutually beneficial way.”