Every day, we choose.
Sometimes quietly,
sometimes with great weight.
We make plans.
We set goals.
We chase after what feels right,
what feels necessary,
what feels like us.
But beneath each goal,
beneath each desire,
there is a reason.
A value.
And not all values are the same.
Some are means—
stepping stones.
Pathways.
They lead us to something deeper.
And some are fundamental—
the end of the road.
The heart of the longing.
The thing we want for no other reason
than because it matters.
To know the difference
is to know yourself more clearly.
What Are Means Values?
Means values are the “hows”
in the shadow of a deeper “why.”
- You may want a high-paying job—
not because you love the work,
but because it leads to security. - You may seek a degree—
not because the diploma itself matters,
but because it opens doors. - You may chase recognition—
not for applause,
but for belonging.
Means values are not false.
They’re just not final.
They are vehicles.
They are ladders.
And their worth
depends on where they take you.
What Are Fundamental Values?
Fundamental values are different.
You do not ask what they lead to.
They are the destination.
They are the things you want
even if they don’t come with perks,
even if no one notices,
even if you cannot explain them.
Peace.
Love.
Truth.
Justice.
Freedom.
Joy.
Integrity.
These are not strategic.
They are sacred.
They are the compass
behind the choices.
They do not ask to be justified.
They ask to be honored.
Why This Matters
If you build your life
chasing only means values—
status, tools, tokens—
you may one day look around
and wonder why you still feel hollow.
Because the means
only satisfy
when they bring you closer
to something fundamental.
This isn’t about abandoning the practical.
It’s about tracing your desire
all the way down.
- What is this really for?
- What does this truly serve?
- If I got this,
would I finally feel what I long for?
Sometimes the answer is yes.
Sometimes, it is a redirection.
Either way,
the asking matters.
Living From the Root
To live with intention
is to place the fundamental values
at the center,
and let the means fall into place
around them.
Not perfectly.
Not always cleanly.
But consciously.
It is to say:
- I want this job
because it gives me the freedom to grow. - I want this move
because it brings me closer to community. - I want this outcome
because it reflects a life
that aligns with love,
or truth,
or peace.
When the “how” serves the “why,”
your life becomes rooted.
When the means serve the end
that actually matters,
you are no longer chasing—
you are becoming.
A Closing Reflection
If you are feeling lost in your goals,
or unsure about a decision—
pause.
Ask:
- Is this a means value or a fundamental one?
- If it’s a means,
what am I really trying to move toward? - What do I value for its own sake—
not because of what it gives me,
but because it is who I am?
Because your deepest clarity
will never come from the goal itself.
It will come from the value behind it.
And in the end, fundamental vs. means values reminds us
that what we want is not always what we need—
until we look beneath the surface.
That purpose is not found in possessions or achievements,
but in alignment.
And when our choices grow from the root of what truly matters,
life no longer feels like a race.
It feels like a return.
Not just to action—
but to meaning.
Not just to progress—
but to peace.