As a child who received little attention from my parents, I often found myself contemplating life. I loved staring at the vastness of the Milky Way, pondering the meaning of life. Questions like, “What am I doing with my life? Where is my destination? Am I truly happy with my life?” kept swirling in my mind, even as I grew up and entered the professional world.

I vividly remember telling my dad at the age of 7 that I wanted to be rich, drive a fancy sports car, and live in a big mansion. As I got older, I met people who had all those things and more wealth than I could imagine. Surprisingly, they told me they weren’t happy. They were where I wanted to be, yet they were wrestling with the same questions.

Then, I stumbled upon a tool called the “Values Card”, and it became the spark of my personal discovery journey. This exercise helped me clear my mind and unveil my core values—fundamental beliefs that shape my decisions, actions, and identity. These values now act as my North Star, guiding me through life’s twists and turns.

What I discovered is pretty cool! The most significant revelation was that the meaning of my life isn’t a specific destination or possession. Instead, it’s the continuous pursuit of my core values: health, love, happiness, learning, and hope. Yes, I still want to get rich, but it’s not at the top of the list. Before wealth, I prioritize my health, my family, continuous learning, and cherishing the present while embracing the future. These values motivate me, and my life’s journey guided by them makes my life more fulfilling and meaningful.

This self-discovery also made me rethink my past career, realizing that some aspects didn’t align with my core values. They didn’t bring me the same joy and satisfaction as prioritizing my health or watching the growth of my son as a father. Hence, the values card is like a superhero sidekick, helping me figure out what truly matters and guiding me towards a purposeful life. As per professor and psychologist Brandon Schmeichel, our values are the silver bullet that boost our will power!

What would you do differently if you could have a compass for your career, relationships, and life? Let us – Lifeskills Institute Malaysia help you to explore the path to a fulfilling and meaningful life, rise and shine brightly like a star!

-Kai Yuan Lau

Talent Management Consultant

-Lifeskills Institute Malaysia