Episode #8: Identity, Values, and Returning to What Matters Most

In this episode of INSPIRE, Drew Lawson and Steve Nadig continue their deep dive into identity and the True Self, focusing on the practical work of values clarification—not as an abstract exercise, but as a lived, daily practice.

Using a simple yet powerful metaphor of weeds and plants, Drew and Steve explore how many of us spend years trying to eliminate our “weeds” (saboteurs, false selves, unwanted identities) without ever discovering the unique plant we’re meant to grow. The invitation is not self-improvement, but self-discovery.

Together, they walk through two core values exercises:

• Identifying values through energy, frustration, heroes, stories, and what moves us

• Distilling long lists of values into one to three core anchors that can actually guide daily decisions

Steve shares how values like altruism, good character, and agape love show up in leadership, sports, and relationships, while Drew reflects on his own core values of Inspire, Embrace, and Whimsy—and the tension that arises when values are deeply held but not fully expressed.

A key insight emerges:

Values are not goals to achieve; they are anchors to return to.

The conversation also explores:

• What it means when a value is high in importance but low in expression

• How grace matters more than guilt when we drift from our values

• Why judging others’ values limits our own growth

• How rituals like value bands, reflection, and daily intention-setting help keep the True Self front and center

The episode closes with a look ahead to what’s next in the INSPIRE journey: building the “House of Me,” clarifying purpose, creating a personal anthem, and eventually integrating strengths and Sage powers—moving from insight to embodiment.

This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask a simple question:

What values do I want to return to—again and again—in the life I’m living right now?