Inner Compass and Self-awareness

While completing the IDG pathway, I was struck by the interconnectedness of the five dimensions and the skills underpinning them. 

I found that although I do consider myself a values-based individual… I didn't actually have a full grasp of my values or which had priority over others, I was deeply lacking self-awareness and had never taken the time to delve and discover what I actually valued. So I really valued the opportunity to undertake the VIA Character strengths survey! 

As I was reading down the list, I was nodding along, thinking, "Ok, this makes sense. Kindness, love of learning, curiosity, perspective…. Wait, what's this?", I discovered 'Judgement' on my list, which was something I had not considered as a value! In fact, I'd always believed it to be a negative characteristic that should be quashing as soon as it arose.

According to Dictionary . Com (n.d.), one definition of judgement is "Making or expressing a negative assessment of someone or something; condemning," which is how I had previously understood it. However my VIA survey assessment results defined it as "Thinking things through and examining from all sides; not jumping to conclusions, weighing evidence fairly, and the ability to change one's mind." This has completely changed how I view judgement.

But, I also noticed other strengths I had never considered; zest, humour, spirituality, all were lesser skills for me, but I had also never had the opportunity to develop them either. Without honing self-awareness, you can never take stock of where you are, and if you don't know where you are, how do you know where you are going?

It transformed my perception of my strengths and skills and has provided me with a different, more accurate view of myself than I had before and offered insights that I can carry into my work, volunteering, and other endeavours.

So now, I'm curious! 

How has your perception of your values and inner compass changed since undertaking this pathway? 

Did you learn something new about them and about yourself?

What shocked you?

(Hopefully my post is along the right lines.)