PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VALUES

Our own aspiration to be the best human being that we can possibly be

lies at the foundation of our lives. This aspiration consists of a strong foundation

based on the beliefs or principles that we utilize as guidelines for the “How” and

“Why” we live. Our daily existence would be meaningless without these

guideposts in our lives. Life can be filled with chaos and selfishness. For us to

give a meaning to our lives, we need to act in accordance to our values.

Values are customs, principles or ideas in which every member of the

society may strongly believe in, and which guide their ethical behaviors. These

guiding principles give everyone a sense of understanding the difference

between right and wrong. We can have these ideas as the basis for growth

planning. These are the ones’ opinion about aspects of life, the way life is and

the way life should be. These are final asset to an individual’s inventory that can

be utilized as we grow older.

We can identify values into two kinds — primary and secondary values.

Primary values are not universal truths, but an individual’s truth. These values

are highly persistent views that mold the unique attitude and behavior of the

people living in the society. They are the standards of living and a way to view

one’s life. Parents passed these primary values to their children and are then

reinforced by social institutions like churches, governments, and schools. It is

also called as “core” values. Examples of core belief may include: life is hard; all

people are created equal; and all people are honest.

path and fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide. There are many

different types of core values in the world, depending upon the setting and

environment.

You may also hear that a person fell in love with their other half because

of their similarities in values. These are internal beliefs that dictate how life

should be lived. Some examples of core values about life includes the belief in

maintaining a healthy work/life balance; and the belief that family is of

fundamental importance; the belief that honesty is always the best policy and that

trust has to be earned.

In an effort to give the children guiding principles for living a good life,

parents try to instill these types of positive core values in them. Core values can

also be negative. Self-interest and greed can sometimes drive other people.

These are examples of core values too, if they dictate the way the people live

their lives. Negative core values can also evolve when people tend live in fear or

insecurity and are obliged to focus on survival in difficult circumstances. Some

examples of negative core values include: a belief that the world is a

fundamentally brutal place and that only the strong people survive; a belief that

people do not have power to change their fates; and a belief that life is

meaningless.

Companies have their own core values as well. These are the principles

that direct the corporation on how it should behave in business and perchance, if

they have an additional mission like serving the community. Core values are
usually reflected in the corporation's mission statement. As you have noticed, the

core values that companies have are often similar to those that individuals might

choose as guiding principles as well.

There are numerous types of core values, so you will need to choose the

ones that are right for you or your organization. Human beings are naturally

ambitious. It’s natural if you want to choose a long list of core values in an effort

to be the best you can be, but limiting your selection to two or three helps you

focus on your mission in life without becoming distracted.

While some people or organizations might expressly share their core

values to others, often the best way to identify these values is to watch how they

behave. Core values are unconsciously exhibited through our attitude and

behavior.

Secondary values are flexible and more open to change. These are the

influences that we adapt from our environment, the people that we interact with,

the traditions that we have, and the situations that we have encountered. Some

examples of secondary values are religious beliefs, professional standards,

business standards, cultural traditions, political philosophy, and individual

differences. Mostly, these are standards that we are consciously abiding. People

make adjustments with respect to the change in their society. This focuses on the

answer of the question, “What do you need to do?” rather than “What do you

want to do?” There is a sense of obligation and freedom of choice when we are

pertaining to our secondary values.

that people should get married in the early stage of their life is a secondary belief.

Believing that children must have proper education is a core belief but believing

that students must do graduation is a secondary belief. There is more chance to

change secondary beliefs, but little chance of changing core values.

Our environment and the people that surround us are great factors that

influence our secondary values. Today’s generation are greatly affected by the

social media — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Millennials want to be always

“in”. They tend to imitate what they see that makes them cool and what’s trending

on social media. Changes in the society also change the secondary values of a

person.

A core value is only true if most of the time, it has an active influence and

if the people or company manages to live by it. It is important to remember that

individuals don’t necessarily choose their core values. Many people have these

values instilled in them by the way their parents and community raise them. You

may already live by strong core values without noticing it. If you want to know

what your core values are, try to ask yourself what activities bring you the most

happiness, or what you couldn’t live without. What do you want to achieve

someday or what gives your life meaning? If you can clearly express those

answers, you’ll likely see a pattern and reduce it into a single concept, such as a

consistently positive attitude or using your creativity to make better decisions.

An essential task for a successful and meaningful life is to develop and

begin to live according to our core values. Our core values are the central part of
who we are and who we want to be. It is the reflection of what is important to us

in life. These govern the way we behave, communicate and interact with other

people. We are may not be aware of our values, but knowing what they are can

help us in making difficult decisions that are right for you. If your values are not

suited with your vision, there will be tremendous amount of push, effort, and

willpower. When the things that we do and the way we behave correspond to our

values, life will be good. Circumstances may not seem to be perfect but there will

be undercurrent of satisfaction and contentment. Be confident to rely on your

values and use them as your guiding force to put you in the right track of life.

Have a list of core values that helps you make better decisions.

Knowing that people can have different values from yours can help you to

better understand others. Priorities of other people may be different from yours.

Understanding that concept will make you realize that other people make their

own decisions that may seem to be different from yours but they may be right for

them. Acceptance is the key in making our lives to easier. If you know who you

really are, then it will be easier for you to understand the values of others.

REFERENCES:

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-core-values.html
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/compare-contrast-core-beliefs-values-
secondary-beliefs-value-chapter-3-problem-5dq-solution-9780133451276-exc
http://ezinearticles.com/comment.php?What-are-Your-Core-Beliefs?&id=255988
Adapted from K Walker, Values, Ethics, & Ethical Decision-Making” Adult
Learning 5:2 (1993)
http://www.kimberlyamici.com/blog/2017/2/16/how-to-identify-your-values-and-
improve-your-life