Discovering Your Core Values: The Key to Making the Right Decisions
Do you struggle to make decisions and often second-guess yourself? Do you find it difficult to achieve your goals?
something that can guide us every step of the way and act as our life’s GPS is Our Values!
Values shape our decisions, guide our actions, and help us create the life we truly want.
What Are Values?
Values are the principles that are most important to us as individuals. They are what we hold dear, the compass that guides our life choices, and the building blocks of our personal foundation.
Yet, most people never take the time to sit down, reflect, and document their values—a huge missed opportunity to live a truly aligned life.
When I started researching this subject and reflecting on my personal values, I found that mine are Family, Ambition, Personal Growth, and Freedom. If you shadowed me during my work hours, you’d see the effort I put in and my ambitious drive. If you looked at my podcast list or internet history, you’d find a pattern of personal growth and self-improvement. Ultimately, all of these align with my desire to live a freedom-filled life with my beautiful family.
For years, I’ve been telling my friends how much I want to travel to Europe. They’re probably sick of hearing about it! But I haven’t made it there yet—not because I can’t, but because when it comes down to making choices, I always prioritize work and family over travel. That suggests to me that while travel is important, it’s not one of my top values—it might be number five on my list, but definitely not number one.
Understanding your values isn’t just important for yourself. It also helps to understand the values of those around you. When we recognize what matters most to others, we can better understand their actions and reactions, improving our relationships and interactions.
How to Discover Your Core Values
A great way to discover your values is by reflecting on past experiences. Ask yourself these three key questions and write down your answers:
What moments in my life made me feel most proud?
What situations caused me the most frustration or disappointment?
When did I feel most fulfilled?
These experiences reveal what truly matters to you. Whether it’s honesty, family, growth, creativity, luxury, or adventure—write down everything that comes to mind, and then narrow it down to your top five values.
Remember, your values aren’t just what you say you value; they should reflect how you actually live your life. This exercise should help reveal them to yourself.
Take a 7-Day Values Audit
To go even deeper, spend the next seven days reviewing your current behaviors and patterns. Journal about:
Time Spent – Where do you spend most of your time? Who do you spend it with?
Screen Time – What do you watch on TV? What content do you consume on your phone and other devices?
Money Spent – Look at your past few bank statements and analyze where your money goes.
These patterns can provide powerful insights into your true values!
Aligning Your Life with Your Values
Once you’ve identified your values, it’s time to align your life with them. Take a look at your daily routines, relationships, and goals. Are they in harmony with your core values? If not, make small changes to bring more alignment. Discovering your values is a journey that takes time and self-reflection. But once you uncover them, they become your guiding light for making decisions and living an authentic, fulfilling life.
Example of Values to get the thinking started..
Integrity – Staying honest and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Kindness – Treating others with compassion and empathy.
Gratitude – Appreciating what you have and expressing thanks.
Discipline – Staying committed to goals and consistent in actions.
Courage – Facing fears and challenges with bravery.
Authenticity – Being true to yourself and not pretending to be someone else.
Family – Prioritizing loved ones and building strong relationships.
Health – Taking care of physical and mental well-being.
Wisdom – Seeking knowledge, growth, and deeper understanding.
Resilience – Bouncing back from setbacks and not giving up.
Respect – Valuing others' opinions, boundaries, and differences.
Creativity – Expressing yourself uniquely and thinking outside the box.
Contribution – Giving back to society and making a positive impact.
Humility – Recognizing that there is always more to learn and improve.
Freedom – Having the ability to make your own choices and live independently.
Perseverance – Continuing despite difficulties and obstacles.
Balance – Managing different aspects of life (work, family, self-care) effectively.
Adventure – Seeking new experiences, challenges, and excitement.
Loyalty – Being faithful and dependable in relationships.
Joy – Finding happiness in everyday moments and spreading positivity.
These are simply examples.
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