Have you ever felt like your ladder is not leaning on the right wall? I have, and it is because I've somehow veered off track. This happens because I simply forgot where I was going in the first place. I have also found out that this occurs because I am making decisions that aren't in alignment with my core values.

The difference between success and merely surviving is the ability to define and recognize your core values and then integrate them into every aspect of your personal and professional life. Core values are the foundation that creates more of what you do want and less of what you don't want in your life. They must be present in your daily actions if you want to be truly at peace with yourself and achieve the success you desire.

What are core values? Core values are who you are right now, not who you think you should be, can be or might be. They define who you are on the ‘inside' - your core. These values help you define what matters most to you in your life and they are the basis for making better choices for taking better care of yourself. We all have our own personal values that define who we are as individuals. You may not have written your core values on paper as such, but they are definitely present in your life.

How many times have you made a decision and one minute later you knew you had made the wrong the decision? In all probability, you made a choice that was not in alignment with your core values. And you probably made that decision to please someone else – not you. This is a People Pleaser No More™ NO NO!

Let me give you an example. If one of your core values is believing in strong family connections, yet you are always working and not spending quality time with your family, then the decision to constantly work is inconsistent with your core values. This will probably have you end up feeling guilty for having ‘abandoned' your family and paying more attention to your work instead of them.

If you want to get your ladder back on the right wall, take some time this week to get clear about what your core values are. Here are some People Pleaser No More™ Action Exercises to help you figure things out.

1. Make a list of all the things that matter most to you in your life. These are the things that you know in your heart of hearts must be present in order for you to feel truly peaceful and successful. Here are some examples: freedom, family connection, personal development, health, fun, honesty, communication, adventure, and respect. Make your Top 10 list of those that are the most important to you and write them down. Then go back and pick out 5 values that really speak to you – you know, the ones that get you all excited when you say them out loud.

2. When you have your list of 5, take a look at where you are in life right now. How many of your current decisions and choices reflect your Top 5 core values? You may be surprised to find out that some of the choices you've made recently have taken you away from your core values. It's okay because this exercise is about creating awareness. The good news is that you can now use this information to make changes and implement new choices that better take care of you (and those around you).

Defining your core values is one of the first steps to becoming a People Pleaser No More™. How else are you going to keep your ladder on the right wall? I've included the written exercise about this important step and Audio CD in my People Pleaser No More™ System. Go to www.SuccessSource.biz and click on Success Source Store, then choose People Pleaser No More ™ System. This could very well be the best present you give yourself this year.