The past week felt like it stayed with me longer than I expected. After getting back from New York and everything surrounding my Aunt Ronnie's service, I noticed I was still sitting with that feeling of surrender I talked about in the last episode. There were so many moving parts with the travel and the weather, and even though everything worked out, I could feel how tired I was from trying to hold it all together. What helped was coming back, again and again, to what I could actually control, and letting the rest be what it was.

As I was settling back into my routine, I started thinking about alignment and how I find my footing when things feel uncertain. I'm always learning, always taking something new in, and recently I started a course on the Celtic Wheel of the Year. On the very first call, we were invited to look at our values, and I'll be honest, I didn't think much would come up. As I sat with it, I realized some of my values have changed because I've changed. That clarity felt grounding in a way I didn't expect. On today's Wise Walk, I invite you to slow down and spend some time with the values that are guiding you right now, and notice how they may be shaping the way you're moving through this season of your life.

• What values feel most important to you right now, whether that's your top ten or just a few that truly stand out?
• What qualities do you most admire in others, and how do those reflect the values you hold?
• Which values are guiding you in this present moment, especially as you move through uncertainty or challenge?
• How are these values helping you envision the person you are becoming?
• What values feel connected to who you are right now and who you want to be moving forward?
• How do these values shape your choices, actions, and daily habits?
• In what ways do your values act as motivators that help you go after what matters most to you?
• How are your values showing up in your life right now, both in visible and subtle ways?
• How can your values serve as living guides that support your highest and best self?
• How do your values define you when you are at your best?
• How do your values influence the way you show up in relationships with others?
• How can you honor shared values in your relationships while allowing space for others to live those values in their own way?
• Where might greater clarity around your values help you communicate boundaries or make agreements with others?
• How can you create more alignment and mutual respect in your relationships by naming what truly matters to you?
• How can you apply your values awareness to your career or daily work?
• Are there areas in your career or relationships where something feels off or out of alignment?
• When you notice imbalance or discomfort, how can you return to your values as a compass to guide your next choice or action?

I'd love to hear what values are guiding you right now. Whether it's your top ten or just one or two that feel especially alive for you, notice how you're holding space for them in this season and how they're shaping the choices you're making.

Thank you so much for being here and for showing up with such openness and self-awareness. I'll meet you back here next Thursday for our Wise Walk, and until then, prioritize fun, read the signs, trust your path, and get your Stride On.

In this episode:

• [03:23] How the Celtic Wheel of the Year is just another opportunity for us to align with the universe, seasons, and the flow of nature.
• [04:26] As I defined my values, I realized that over time some of them have shifted. Knowing your values serves as a living guide for all of us.
• [06:12] As I went on my own Wise Walk, I realized that focusing on my values was more difficult than I thought. It took me a while to target my top 10.
• [07:02] Kindness is a fallback value for me. I also love being of service to others. Love and gratitude are very connected, but I honed in on love.
• [08:16] Other big ones for me include learning and growth, adventure in nature, and openness. Balance and freedom were also very important to me.
• [09:16] I also wanted to show up authentically as myself. Health is also a priority and part of my top 10.
• [11:20] My top 10 are kindness, service, love, learning, adventure in nature, openness, balance, freedom, authenticity, and health.
• [13:10] One of my values is health. This is also the value of many of my friends, but the way health shows up is unique for each of us.
• [15:48] I was speaking with a client about career values and growth. They've now admitted that this isn't a value that they're passionate about anymore.
• [16:55] They now have a career value of stability. Getting clear on this was very powerful.
• [18:24] Identifying my values as a living guide is going to increase my decision making and help me feel more aligned with my choices.
• [19:02] This exercise will also help reduce internal conflict or conflict with others.

Memorable Quotes:

• • "Living in alignment doesn't mean life gets easier, it means you trust yourself more when it gets hard." - Mary Tess
  • "Your values are not rules to follow, they are reminders that bring you home to yourself." - Mary Tess
  • "Clarity comes when you stop asking what you should want and start listening to what truly matters to you." - Mary Tess
  • "When you live by your values, your choices begin to feel lighter and more intentional." - Mary Tess

Links and Resources:

• Mary Tess Rooney
• Email
• Heart Value
• The Celtic Wheel Of The Year

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