The adventure of life is to learn The Purpose of life is to

1
Meaning and Values

• The adventure of life is to learn
• The Purpose of life is to grow
• The nature of life is to change
• The challenge of life is to overcome
• The essence of life is to care
• The opportunity of life is to serve
• The secret of life is to dare
• The spice of life is to befriend
• The beauty of life is to give
• The joy of life is to love
• --William Arthur Ward

2
Values

• Personal beliefs about the good or the just
  and the beautiful, personal beliefs that propel
  us to action, to a particular kind of behavior
  and life. (Hunter Lewis, 2000)
• Value Systemthe underlying system of beliefs
  about what is important in life to the person.

3
Types of Values

• Moral Valueshave to do with right and wrong,
  good and evil.
• Non-moral Valuestastes, preferences and
  styleswhat is desirable or undesirable

4
Values Development

• We first acquire understanding of right and wrong
  by observing the behavior of those around us.
  (see Social Learning Theory)
• We learn shoulds and should nots (see Freud
  superego)

5
Individuation

• The separation from our family system and the
  establishment of our own identity based on our
  own experiences
• My value system becomes most important to me

6
Other Factors

• Religious Beliefs
• Beliefthe acceptance of some thought,
  supposition or idea
• Attitudespositive or negative orientation toward
  a certain target
• Prejudices
• Stereotypes

7
Value Orientation

• Thing-orientedfocus on material objects as
  motivation
• Idea-orientedfocus on ideas, theories, concepts,
  strategies, problem-solving
• People-orientedfocus on having other people in
  your life, relationships, etc.

8
Values Clarification

• Choosing freely
• Choosing from alternatives
• Choosing after considering
• Cherishing and feeling happy about the choice
• Publicly affirming a value
• Doing something about a value
• Acting repeatedly

9
Value Indicators

• The Choice Test
• The Time Test
• The Sacrificial Test
• The Emotion Test

10
Cognitive Dissonance Theory

• Cognitive dissonance theorywe discover
  inconsistencies between our attitudes and/or
  behaviors, we experience discomfort which we try
  to alleviate through attitude changes
• It is more likely we will change our attitudes
  than our behaviors.

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Personal Ethics, Character and Integrity

• Personal Ethicsan attempt to reconcile what
  ought to be with what is
• Personality ethicfocusing on behavior and
  personalityhaving the right images or using the
  right techniques
• Character ethica style of living based on
  prioritized principles and values

12
Ethics, Character and Integrity

• Ethicsour standards of conduct or behavior
• Characterwho we are as we apply our ethic
• Integrityachieving congruence between what you
  know, what you say and what you do.also, doing
  the right thing even when no one is looking.

13
Meaning and Purpose

• According to Victor Frankl, Irvin Yalom and other
  existential psychologists, human beings require
  meaning to surviveto live without meaning and
  values brings about great distress
• Meaningthe primary motivational force in ones
  life

14
Existential Psychology

• According to Yalom, human beings are faced with
  four ultimate concerns of life
• Death
• Freedom
• Existential Isolation
• Meaninglessness

15
Existential Psychology

• If the why is strong enough, we will always
  find a way.