Monday Memo| Detail No.162| July 07, 2025|

Hey reader,

Welcome to a new week on DETAILS.

This month, we’re sitting with something that’s easy to talk about but hard to live out: values.

Now, before you scroll past thinking “I already know my values,” I want you to pause. Really pause.

You’ve heard the word thrown around on company walls, in polished captions, or those glossy posters that say things like “honesty,” “discipline,” “kindness.”

But let’s press pause and ask something most people skip over:

What are your values... really?

Not the words you think you should live by. Not the ones that sound noble in a motivational post. The values you actually carry with you when the lights are off and nobody is watching. The ones that guide your everyday choices, the small ones, the hard ones, the invisible ones.

Let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about the space where your values move from just sounding good… to becoming your actual compass.

Think about this:

• How do you act when someone disrespects you in public?

• How do you respond to the friend who disappointed you again?

• Do you keep your word when it’s no longer convenient?

• Are you still kind when no one says thank you?

These are not hypothetical situations. These are key areas where our values come out to play.

Because here’s the truth: values are not declared, they’re demonstrated.

Let’s strip it all down.

Find a quiet moment today, maybe in your room or at work, during your commute, or while sipping tea and ask yourself:

• What truly matters to me?

• What qualities do I respect in others that I want to strengthen in myself?

• When do I feel most proud of how I acted?

• When do I feel that I’ve betrayed myself?

  
  

Now, based on that reflection, write down five values that reflect who you are and who you want to become.

Some may choose:

• Honesty

• Loyalty

• Growth

• Compassion

• Discipline

  
  

Others may write:

• Freedom

• Justice

• Creativity

• Stillness

• Vulnerability

  
  

There’s no right or wrong list. Only your list.

Let it be true. Let it be yours.

Here’s where it gets uncomfortable. And good.

Take one look at those five values and ask yourself: Are these reflected in how I live each day?

If you wrote down "peace" but constantly say yes to things that drain you, there's a mismatch. If you wrote "honesty" but hide your feelings to keep others comfortable, that's worth noticing.

This isn’t to guilt you. It’s to open your eyes. Because awareness is the first step to alignment.

Let’s keep it simple.

Pick one value from your list and make it your guiding focus this week.

Maybe it’s integrity. Or grace. Or discipline.

Now every time a decision, conversation, or challenge comes your way—ask:

What does [my value] look like in this moment?

• If it’s discipline, maybe it’s setting your alarm and getting up even when you don’t feel like it.

• If it’s compassion, maybe it’s listening without interrupting.

• If it’s courage, maybe it’s having that uncomfortable conversation you’ve been avoiding.

You’re not trying to be perfect. You’re trying to be present.

At the end of each day, take 5 minutes and write:

• One moment where you embodied your value.

• One moment where you didn’t—but noticed it.

• One insight about why it’s hard or rewarding to live this way.

You’ll be surprised how much clarity this gives. You’ll start to feel when you’re aligned… and when you’re not.

This is where growth lives—not in performing, but in practicing.

Living your values isn’t just about feeling like a good person. It’s about building a foundation that:

• Strengthens your relationships: People know what to expect from you. You show up consistent, not convenient.

• Brings peace to your decisions: You stop second-guessing every move because you’re led by what matters to you.

• Anchors you when life gets messy: When everything feels shaky, your values keep you grounded.

Values make your life feel less chaotic and more coherent. They help you become someone you’re proud of—not just occasionally, but deeply.

Let your values speak not just through your lips, but through your life.

See you next Monday.

d

I whistle down the wind

Carry on smiling

And the world will smile with you

Life is a flower

So precious in your hand

Carry on smiling

And the world will smile with you

And the world will smile with you

And the world will smile with you

And the world will smile with you

Please, Mr. Agony

Release them for a while

Learn them the consequences of

Living without life

Please, Mr. Agony

Release them for a while

Learn them the consequences of

Living without life