So, I think I mentioned this in my previous post, but, it wasn't until I joined a fraternity that I really began to think about what my values are. Prior to joining a fraternity, I had not really given this whole "value" thing much thought.
Since my Fraternity debut 6 years ago, I've had, well, almost 6 years to start thinking about my values. And it wasn't even my initiation or simple involvement within the fraternity that got me thinking about values. It actually wasn't until I attend my first fraternity leadership conference that I was told, "hey, PS, btw, you just joined a values-oriented organization. Oh, and btw, thats what this organization is all about: values."
And even at that first leadership conference where the small-print disclaimer finally arouse, I was still skeptical. What does THAT exactly mean? "Values-oriented" organization? That sound fancy, confusing, and weird.
Fast forward 6 years, and, well, I'm finally starting to understand what that means. But my comprehension of it, is not something that happened overnight. Nor should it.
Rather, it should be more of a journey... my journey looked something like this:
Stage 1: They are telling me this is a values-oriented organization. That sounds like a cool term. Not sure what it means.
Stage 2: Oh... that means that this Fraternity is all about values - thats why we exist. And my job as a member of this fraternity is to live by these values and help promote these values and center my life around these 3 values of my Fraternity: Cultivation of Intellect, Unsullied Friendship & Unfaltering Fidelity.
Stage 3: Wait. What about my own values? Just because I joined a fraternity that means I gave up all right to be my own person? Can't I have my own values... in addition to my fraternities values? As long as my own values are still in-line with my Fraternity's values? I kind of want to be a Beta, AND Tyler Blair. Is that possible? Or because I'm a Beta, does that mean that Beta's values are my exclusive values?
Stage 4: Yep. My questions are right. I am still allowed to be my own person and I SHOULD in fact have my own values (in addition to my Fraternity values). As long as they don't contradict my own values, in order to be my own person, I need to start figuring out what MY values are.
Stage 5: Crap. What ARE my values?
Stage 6: Ok... I think I know what my values are...for the time being at least. They are:
1. LEARNING: I define learning as the life-long journey of gaining new perspectives through experience. I choose to live my life with a focus around learning because I don't think I know everything there is to know. Without knowing everything there is to know, my level of creativity will be limited.
2. CREATIVITY: I define creativity as doing what has never done before. I choose to live my life with a focus around creativity because I believe that nothing great can ever happen without doing what has never been done before. You can't solve the world's problems and practice active citizenship, without trying what hasn't been done before.
3. CITIZENSHIP: I define citizenship as the responsibility we all have to make the World a better place. I choose to live my life with a focus around citizenship because I believe that everything I do should be done with the goal of improving our collective lives. If not...whats the point?
4. CONGRUENCE: I define congruence as doing what you say will do. I choose to live my life with a focus around congruence because without doing so, I have no credibility. Without credibility, I have no influence around others. Without influence around others, my citizenship is not very useful.
Stage 7 (sometime in the future): Hmmm... maybe its time to change my values a bit. Maybe I'm missing one. Maybe one's not relevant anymore. Maybe I'm not as bought into one as I used to be. Time to re-think these. And thats okay. As long as at the end of the day, I always have values. And that I can always make an argument that they don't counter my Fraternities' values.
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