This past year, my life has changed tremendously. I mean, I knew it would—I just had another human! But even though I’d already experienced motherhood before, this time around has been completely different. I’m older, my mindset has evolved, my identity has shifted, and honestly, I’m not the same person I was when I had my son.
And with that change, something interesting has been happening. Friends, family, and people in my community keep checking in, asking:
“Are you happy?”
I know part of this comes from curiosity—because what I’m living right now is another dream of mine coming true. And for some people, this dream of mine feels impossible. Maybe because of my age. Maybe because of my race. Maybe because of cultural expectations. But here I am, living my dream. And I am happy.
Not because life is easy. Not because everything is perfect. But because I’m living by my values.
Why Living by Your Values is the Key to Happiness
If you’re feeling stuck or like happiness is slipping through your fingers, I want you to pause and ask yourself:
Am I living by my own values—or someone else’s?
So many of us live by default. We follow the values of our family, our culture, our faith, our community—without ever stopping to ask: What do I actually value?
But here’s the truth:
You can be in a hard season and still be happy.
You can experience challenges and still feel aligned.
You can live a life that looks impossible to others but feels deeply fulfilling to you.
The key is knowing your values.
Your Top 3 Values Will Shape Your Life
If you want to wake up every day feeling like yourself, accepting yourself, and having the confidence to be yourself, you have to start with your values.
So I encourage you to take a moment and ask yourself:
- What do I actually value?
- What matters most to me—not just in theory, but in practice?
- What are my top three values?
When you get clear on your values, you’ll start making decisions that align with who you really are—and that’s when happiness becomes real.
So, what are your top three values? Let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram—I’d love to hear what’s guiding you this year!
