Identifying Your Core Values

Introduction

You might not realize it yet, but there are immense benefits to identifying your core values. It can reduce stress and procrastination and give you a better understanding of yourself. Understanding Your values helps you stay on track in life. Here are Some actions to help you Identify your Core values.

Get In the Right State of Mind

The first step to identifying your core values is to get in the right state of mind. Then, picture those moments when you truly felt fulfilled, and you’ll be ready to go.

Examples

• Take a few moments each day to meditate and reflect on what you are thankful for.
• Get into a positive mindset by thinking about the things you are proud of.
• Visualize yourself in a situation where you have achieved one of your goals.

Reflect On the Times in Your Life When You Were the Happiest

When you reflect on the times in your life when you were the happiest, think about the feelings of pride and confidence that you had. If you can identify what caused this feeling, then you’ll be able to unlock your core values.

Examples

• Think about a time when you achieved a goal that was incredibly important to you.
• Recall a time when you made a decision that made you feel empowered.
• Reflect on a time when you accomplished something that you thought was impossible.

Think of a Time When You Were Proud of Yourself

To identify your core values, you need to think back to when you felt proud of yourself. Then, reflect on the voids in your life and how they have been filled, and you’ll be one step closer to understanding yourself.

Examples

• Think about a time when you achieved something beyond what you thought was possible.
• Recall when you overcame an obstacle that you thought was unbeatable.
• Think about a time when you were kind to someone or showed great empathy.

Identify What Has Made You Feel Fulfilled or Satisfied in the Past

Once you’ve identified the times in your life when you were the happiest, you need to think back on the experiences of happiness, pride, and satisfaction. Describe what’s important to you in words, and you’ll be well on finding your core values.

Examples

• Think about the aspects of your life that make you feel fulfilled.
• Identify the relationships in your life that bring you joy and satisfaction.
• Reflect on the values that you’ve held throughout your life.

Align These Experiences with Value Words

Once you’ve described what’s important to you in words, it’s time to align these experiences with value words. Picture a situation where you would have to choose between two values, and you’ll be able to hone in on your core values.

Examples

• Picture a situation in which you have to choose between courage and kindness.
• Visualize a situation in which you have to choose between honesty and loyalty.
• Imagine a situation in which you have to choose between ambition and determination.

Prioritize Your Important Values

Now that you have a list of values, it’s time to prioritize them. As you go through your list of values, think about which ones you value the most and which ones you value the least. This will help you identify your core values.

Examples

• Rank honesty, courage, and loyalty in order of importance.
• Prioritize kindness, ambition, and determination.
• Rank empathy, confidence, and determination.

Resources

• The Core Values Exercise:
  • Mind Tools: Identifying Your Personal Values
  • PositivePsychology.com: Core Values Assessment
• The Power of Core Values:
  • Forbes: The Power of Core Values
  • Inc.: The Power of Core Values
• How to Identify Your Values:
  • Tony Robbins: How to Identify Your Values
  • Verywell Mind: Identifying Your Values

Common Life Values:

Freedom

• Freedom matters, for how consciousness can expand without choice? Having the capacity to try and experience through purposeful volition allows for discovery.
• Examples of freedom can be seen in the life of Anne Frank, whose courage and resilience to remain faithful to her values in the face of extreme adversity serves as a reminder of the power of choice.
• Stories of freedom are also found in the words of writers such as Maya Angelou, whose powerful writing captures the essence of liberation and the beauty of making our own decisions.

Discovery

• In the context of appreciation, understanding oneself through outside perspectives is discovery and integral to loving oneself as one would love others.
• An example of discovery is the journey of Mahatma Gandhi, who, through immense self-reflection and exploration of the world around him, found his unique path.
• Tales of discovery are also found in the words of Rumi, who, through his poetry, offers a reminder of the power of exploration and the beauty of discovering one’s truth.

Peace

• Peace is rest; it allows things to breathe and rise and fall; it is the source of all that will be; it is calming and gives something to look forward to.
• Examples of peace can be seen in the life of Martin Luther King Jr., whose commitment to nonviolence as a means of achieving justice and equality serves as a reminder of the power of peace.
• Stories of peace are also found in the words of Nelson Mandela, whose inspiring words capture the essence of harmony and the beauty of achieving unity and understanding.

Love

• Love is the oneness of all things, the realization that one is never alone and always cared for, and being a part of something greater than oneself that is infinite in its care.
• An example of love can be seen in the life of Mother Teresa, whose selflessness and devotion to serving the least of these functions as a reminder of the power of love.
• Tales of love are also found in the words of John Steinbeck, whose writing captures the essence of compassion and the beauty of loving others unconditionally.

Respect

• Respect is always remembering that all parts are relevant, which keeps love humble and not ego-centric.
• Examples of respect can be seen in the life of Malala Yousafzai, whose courage and perseverance in the face of injustice serve as a reminder of the power of care.
• Stories of respect are also found in the words of Confucius, whose teachings capture the essence of humility and the beauty of honoring one’s self and others.

Growth

• Growth allows stages through time to keep things exciting and highlight the spirit within.
• An example of growth can be seen in the life of Steve Jobs, whose creative vision and relentless pursuit of excellence serve as a reminder of the power of change.
• Tales of growth are also found in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose writing captures the essence of progress and the beauty of striving for greatness.

Expression

• Expression allows all to shine, so all do not appear to be the same; it will enable creativity to exist, as all contributions come from special energy centers which allow entertainment and the sensation of joy, happiness, despair, fear, and the spectrum of emotions.
• Examples of expression can be seen in the life of Frida Kahlo, whose bold and vibrant art reminds us of the power of words.
• Stories of expression are also found in the words of Walt Whitman, whose poetry captures the essence of creativity and the beauty of expressing oneself freely.

Conclusion

Life values are essential for our overall well-being and reflective of our inner values. They provide us with a sense of purpose and direction, allowing us to make decisions aligned with our values. Understanding and living our values can help us lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Resources

• The Core Values Exercise:
  • Mind Tools: Identifying Your Personal Values
  • PositivePsychology.com: Core Values Assessment
• The Power of Core Values:
  • Forbes: The Power of Core Values
  • Inc.: The Power of Core Values
• How to Identify Your Values:
  • Tony Robbins: How to Identify Your Values
  • Verywell Mind: Identifying Your Values

Conclusion

You can reduce stress and procrastination by reflecting on your past experiences and identifying your core values. Then, you can take control of your life and make sure you are living the life you want.