Values vs. Feelings

August 2025.

Do you struggle with overthinking and analysis paralysis when it comes to making decisions or taking next steps? The mental knots we get tied up in can distract and derail us from moving forward.

Consider how it could simplify our lives if we decided what our values are, and then align decisions with those values. Our feelings come and go. Basing decisions on them is a recipe for chaos, plenty of anxiety, and stunted personal growth. By God’s grace, I didn’t allow my fears to influence my career decision. I would have missed out on the amazing 35 year adventure I had as a violinist with the LA Philharmonic.

Values can be a plumb-line to evaluate our behaviors, thoughts, words, and goals…and can help us achieve greater congruency between what we say we want to do, and what we actually do. Our feelings need to be acknowledged and owned, but we don’t have to let them run our life.

What values are important to you? Maybe write some out on paper. When those values are clear and unchanging in your mind, ask yourself if your thoughts, words, and actions are in agreement with your values. Decision making will become a lot less confusing and stressful.

“…in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works…” Titus 2:7