espoused values...

So let it be known that I am knee deep in my master’s thesis. Perhaps deeper, ok, actually playing catch up since my case dropped from under me about 10 days ago, leaving me with having to find another company and change everything I have been writing. Ugh!

I am working on my Executive Master of Corporate Communication at Copenhagen Business School. Amazing program to say the least, and even though I have enjoyed my intellectual/practical journey, I am so looking forward to throwing my cap into the air this December! My thesis is on the role of values in Corporate Branding… ah blah blah blah… just take the jump…

espoused values: what we say we aim to live by but do not seem to get around to doing it

All of this research over the past few months about values—published, espoused, in practice, perception—lead me to a Maslow like moment…. what about actualized values?

Hell, what are actualized values? To me, it is when the perceived (what others think you are living to), espoused (what you say you are living to) are aligned AND transparent—the essence of actualized values. Now, the argument as to whether they are good or bad in nature is an entirely different thread… but let’s use the positive and healthy ones for this construct, shall we?

That requires us to be conscience and conscious of our everyday being and the world that surrounds us (tee hee hee… hence the play on words for my blog address and the title have both, ever caught wind?).

So, what in the heck does this have to do with the everyday gig? The local gig, global one at that? It starts with us, on the inside, both above the board and the flip side.

What is behind espoused values? It could very well be the ideal self, screaming from within, to be acknowledged, validated, embraced, feeling secure enough to inch forward. Once the latter cravings are in place and satiated, the comfort in living them settles into place and, well, time to *pay it forward* with our actions, beliefs and attitudes. It seems that the process is killed mid-step, and it could be for many reasons including lack of a supportive network, personal insecurity or the feeling that some things are so big to tackle that we are swallowed in our own demise.

And then here is the other argument, in which I will put into context below: what if we are using espoused values to get to that actualized value? Or better yet defined, to convince others that their reality is untrue (even if it is the truth) so that we feed our insecurity and therefore solidify our license to operate?

Take this: Bushco in vain regurgitating at every turn that the US is safer to legitimize an unconstitutional war, sending troops into danger from across the globe coupled with civilian deaths. With the latest report published, based in intelligence in upwards of 15 agencies, it states today that the US and world is less safe with the presence—er, occupation-- in Iraq. Hard core, truth in reality, undisputed assertions based on facts. Whoops, that reality must be untrue… for Bushco says we are in the wrong. Ah, the hypocrisy in King George’s rose tinted (un)reality.

Which brings us to this—hypocrisy is the medicine that is the necessary evil to cure all, right? When espoused values are not in line with the values that we live, hypocrisy is not only the result, it is our *warning sign* that we need to amend, correct or change. So if hypocrisy is to serve a corrective action, where does this place us when looking at Iraq versus Bushco? It must be that hypocrisy transcends itself, hence turning into a different breed of cat (yes, I lived in the South for quite a few years). What do we have now?

My thought—it is that evil against good, yin-yang kind of thing. When hypocrisy cannot lend to a corrective action, another must be taken. It is at that point where the tribal mentality needs to set in to make amends… and I view the net roots as that tribe. And it starts not only within ourselves to make the choice to make a difference, it lies in us to take action to make a difference.

And to no surprise, of course this steers to Ned Lamont, Jon Tester, and all of the brave, loving individuals that have gone through this process—transcend the hypocrisy through the tribe, find the advocates and act to change, put values in motion that are not only healthy, yet actualized.

Looking at this espoused values-actualized values-values in play-hypocrisy construct, it can be applied to almost anything, huh? And where do we as individuals, as a society, make the difference in those situations/conflicts? Find your tribe. I am flying to mine 04 November (yes, still reeling from the excitement!).

question: what part of your inner being have you not gotten around to doing?

gratuity and strength from: emeralds (insider comment, yet had to post)