A Mid-Year Reset: Upgrading the Inner Operating System

Reading time: 4 min

I had a very nice talk with a friend the other day (it was recorded and will be online soon, so you can all join the conversation).

We touched on life philosophy and values, and she told me, “Maybe you can share how you set your values.”

And since this space is one of experiments, I thought: Yes, this is worth sharing. Especially now, as we close H1 of 2025. (Remember! Life in quarters.)

I want to do the values exercise for myself anyway, to hit reset for the second part of the year. And I invite you to join me.

What Values Are (in my own words)

Values define who we are, how we act, and what we prioritize. They're the basis of our behavior.

And we all have them, whether we're naming them or not.

That’s why, if you don’t know your values, you just have to observe your behavior and connect the dots. Patterns emerge. And change becomes easier once you get clarity on the current state.

You NOW vs. The FUTURE You

If we assess things honestly and get a clear picture, we might realize that some things need to change. Because maybe there's a version of ourselves we're working to build, and tweaking our values can help make that version real.

The YOU from NOW might hold values that no longer serve you. 

For example: insecurity. You might not like that it’s there, but a realistic assessment tells the truth. And that kind of clarity is key: it tells you what to move away from and what to move towards. Like choosing confidence instead.

Changing ourselves also comes from operating in the state our FUTURE SELF would.

My Own Story

2024 was a year of big changes for me.

And I believe I pulled it off because I chose courage as my top value. Not because I was the most courageous person, but because I wanted to be.

My top 5 values in 2024:

• Courage – to take risks and step out of my comfort zone (and I did: spoke on a stage in front of hundreds of people, invested in a house, moved to the US).

• Connection – to welcome new people and nurture the bonds I already have.

• Learn & Grow – saying yes to experiences that level me up.

• Intelligence – growing both emotionally and intellectually, and operating from a higher state.

• Vitality & Energy – prioritizing movement, nutritious food, sleep (this one is still a work in progress).

Not saying I was on top of my game every single day. But with this list in mind, I had more clarity.

And yes, I also had some negative values to move away from: fear of failure, perfectionism, self-neglect, self-pity. The list is long, but on a more positive note, internal saboteurs are here to make us stronger.

Time for an Exercise?

I’m working on revisiting my list. Why wait until December to reflect and reset?

If this resonates with you, maybe it’s your reminder to do the same.

Make It an Experiment!

*Why rank them?

Because sometimes, values clash. And when they do, knowing which one matters more to you can help you choose with less guilt and more clarity.

Let’s say your family invites you to dinner on a Sunday night, but you have a big presentation the next morning.

If family is your top value, you’ll likely go to dinner.

If performance ranks higher right now, you might skip it to prep.

Take it with a pinch of salt. Flexibility is key, and not all decisions are black and white.

If you need help naming values, there are plenty of examples online. 👉Here is a list from James Clear that might help you. 

I hope your first half of 2025 was exciting enough to make you smile, challenging to make you grow, and fun to make you wanna do it again. We get a fresh start on July 1st.

PS: If you think about it, life is so wise in its way. Every day gives us a new chance to live more meaningfully and level up ourselves. We just gotta play the game.

Hugs,
Silvia