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Notice anything? The research by Common Cause found that many people in society naturally rank higher in the top half of the map and align to more intrinsic values. However, society and the media, often over emphasise extrinsic values. This leads to a self perpetuating cycle of us (as individuals) wanting to do good. But when we think about other people in society, we are encouraged to perceive them as the problem or out to get us. So what does that mean? We can end up stuck in this cycle of wanting the world around us to be better but we’re too scared of the other people in our communities taking advantage of us. It’s at the core of why the media and politicians often try to cause division when in reality, they know that we all have more in common with each-other than the wealthy people like them who are trying to manipulate our perspectives. That might feel rather macro but it filters down in to our every day lives. If much of the world around us rewards values that don’t always feel natural or true to our inner selves, the tension between what the world prizes and what we hold close, shapes how we experience work, teams and society. I’ve felt this deeply in my own career. The times I’ve struggled weren’t when I worked hard or faced difficult challenges. They were when my values were stretched too thin - when what I was doing or what the environment rewarded, didn’t sit with who I truly am. That dissonance is draining. It’s a key ingredient in burnout. Working hard is one thing but working against your own values is painful in a way that no external reward can fix. Understanding your values and noticing the roots that support you, brings clarity. It shows why certain environments, tasks or ways of communicating feel heavy and why others feel energising. It’s also the foundation for showing up authentically in the world. Even in something as public as social media, alignment matters. If your messages, your style or the content you share feels disconnected from your core values, it’s exhausting and it shows. People notice. But when you lean into your intrinsic values, even subtly, the connection is stronger, more credible and more consistent. Success comes differently, slower but steadier, deeper and more sustainable. Authenticity isn’t about perfection but coherence between your inner world and how you appear, speak and act. When you nurture your roots, the canopy naturally reflects the strength below. And in that reflection, others sense belonging, trust and credibility because what you show up with is genuinely you.
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