Stress, low energy, being overwhelmed, and indecision — if you’ve been feeling off and can’t quite understand why, it might not be the obvious things like your workload or sleep schedule. It could be that you’re out of alignment with your core values.

In our last post, we walked through a powerful (and surprisingly eye-opening) core values exercise. Now, we’re talking about what happens when you drift away from those values — and how to spot the signs, shift back, and show up as the version of you that feels most real.

Signs You’re Out of Alignment

Your values are like your internal compass — and when you ignore them, your whole system starts to feel off. Some of the key indicators include:
- Feeling de-energized or weighed down by something you said yes to
- A sense of disconnection from people, projects, or routines
- Indecision or procrastination when it’s time to act
- That low-level, hard-to-explain “yuckiness” after a conversation or choice

A Personal Story (And a Lot of Yuck)

There was a time I got asked to help someone starting a t-shirt business — and I showed up all wrong. I was aloof, guarded, and not myself. Afterward, I felt gross. At first, I blamed the situation, the person, the ask. But then I realized: I had acted out of fear and scarcity, not in line with my real values. That “yuck”? It was my compass telling me I was off track.

What to Do When You Feel Out of Alignment

Here’s what works for me — and might work for you too:
1. **Know your tell.** For me, it’s “yuckiness.” For you, it might be tension, overthinking, or indecision.
2. **Sit with your values.** Literally. Keep them nearby. Re-read them and reflect on how your recent behavior aligned (or didn’t).
3. **Look yourself in the eye.** I do this in the mirror and say, “Yep, I blew it. And I forgive myself.”
4. **Decide what to remember.** Not to ruminate — but to reconnect with who you *want* to be, not who you just were.
5. **Practice.** Look for tiny, doable ways to get back in alignment. It doesn’t have to be huge. It could be helping someone at the store. You’re just rebuilding that muscle.

This Is the Work That Changes You

Living your values isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness, forgiveness, and intentional practice. And when you commit to that? Even your most difficult moments can become your biggest growth points.

Grab the Simplify Adulting Starter Kit, do the values exercise if you haven’t already, and check in with yourself. You might be closer to alignment than you think — you just need to name it.

Until next time, stay kind to yourself.

-Lee