“USIGUSE MURIMA” – CLIMBING TO THE PEAK OF YOUR TRUE VALUES

For my non-Kenyan friends, “usiguse murima” loosely translates to “don’t touch the mountain.” It’s a phrase that recently sparked national conversation and debate in Kenya, thanks to a certain Deputy President whose passionate defense of “the mountain” became his calling card—and, ironically, his downfall.

Accused of tribalism and labeled a “tribal chief” rather than a national leader, his values (or the perception of them) came under sharp scrutiny. The gusto with which he guarded the mountain earned him applause from some and ire from others. Ultimately, it landed him in hot water, costing him his position.

As I watched this political drama unfold, I couldn’t help but reflect: What values do our leaders actually live by? And more importantly, what values do I live by? The truth is, values drive our behavior and character whether or not we’re conscious of them. They’re like an unspoken signature that defines how we’re perceived—and remembered. Just as the Deputy President's words and actions drew scrutiny over whether he was serving his community or the nation at large, we too are constantly revealing our own values—whether we mean to or not.

A few years ago, I was at a crossroads, feeling torn between choices that seemed equally promising yet conflicting. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why I felt so unsettled. That’s when I decided to work with a Life Coach. In one of our sessions, we dove into the topic of my core values. Through powerful questions and thoughtful reflection, my Life Coach guided me to recognize my values and how they present in my character and inner convictions. It was a revelation! Suddenly, so many of my struggles then made a lot of sense.

From my sessions with the Coach, I learned how to identify, name, and actively lean towards my values. Now, every decision—from career moves to personal commitments—goes through a “values test.” It’s a compass I didn’t know I needed but can’t live without. My top five? Empathy, Justice, Knowledge & Learning, Loyalty, and Spirituality. They’re my guiding stars, and naming them has transformed how I navigate life.

Knowing your values is like holding a lantern that lights your path in the darkest of moments. They help you understand who you are and ensure you don’t end up guarding the wrong “mountain” out of habit or pressure.

So, do you know your values? If not, how can you go about discovering them? Try these simple tests.

1. The Fulfillment Test:
   Reflect on moments when you felt truly alive, fulfilled, or proud. Was it helping someone in need, standing up for a cause, or leading a team? The values behind those moments—kindness, courage, leadership—are clues to what matters most to you. Personally, I light up when I help people solve tricky situations or dilemmas, especially when we hit that mutual “aha” moment. For me, values like empathy and growth shine brightest.
2. The Discomfort Test:
   Think about times when you felt uncomfortable, frustrated, or wronged. Maybe it was witnessing injustice, favoritism, or broken promises. Those feelings point to values you hold dear. For instance, I’m deeply bothered by injustice—it’s a value I refuse to compromise on.
3. The Legacy Test:
   Think about how you would want to be remembered and what you would want people to say about you when you die. Were you generous, kind, ambitious, influential, etc.? I know most people don’t like to think about death but in thinking about it, we get perspective on what’s important and how we should live our lives.

The beautiful thing about values is that they’re always with us, even if we haven’t named them yet. Assigning names to them raises our level of awareness and helps us to live intentionally. You will find it easier to run mental values tests whenever you encounter certain situations. When these situations or actions align with your values, you experience a sense of inner peace. When they don’t, there’s often a gnawing discomfort that reminds you something is off. This also applies to people and relationships. When someone’s actions clash with your core values, it’s a signal to reassess the dynamic. And when your values align, it’s like finding your tribe!

So, what values are you discovering about yourself? Did any of the exercises surprise you or affirm something you already knew? Let’s chat about this in the comments and share what mountains we’re ready to climb—or leave behind.

And one last tip: As you go through the tests, start by listing 20 values that come to mind, then narrow it down to 10, and finally 5. Your values might shift over time, so check in with yourself every so often.

Now, go forth and guard your real mountains—the ones that truly matter. 💙

Gusa murima! 😂