How To Identify And Live Out Your Core Values
What is most important to you? The values and beliefs that are most important to us guide how we live our lives and impact the world around us. Values are what help us live our lives on purpose. Knowing the values and beliefs, you stand for helps you stay focused on what matters most to you. Gaining clarity on what matters most to you allows you to live a more meaningful and fulfilled life. This article explores the importance of knowing your core values and some helpful tips on identifying your core values and living them out daily.
WHAT ARE CORE VALUES?
Core values are the beliefs that are most important to you. Values are the ideas, philosophy, and fundamental beliefs that guide how you live your life. What are your passions? What do you stand for? What type of person do you want to become? The answers you give to these questions will likely uncover some of your most fundamental values.
WHY ARE CORE VALUES IMPORTANT?
Life is full of surprises, from the good surprises to the unpleasant surprises and everything in between. Life rarely ever goes as planned. With all the unpredictability that life brings, having a solid set of values will help you gracefully get through the tough times. In addition to guiding you through tough times, values also keep you grounded and focused on what is most important. We are surrounded by distractions every day. Values make it easier to say “yes” to what matters most and “no” to what doesn’t. During a coaching session, author Dave Hollis shared his thoughts on why values are important to have.
“If you are clear on what your core values are, then you have established a foundation on how to live because your core values are aligned with your purpose.”
HOW DISCOVERING YOUR VALUES CAN CHANGE YOU
Discovering my values was a game-changer for me. I feel most myself when I’m living in alignment with my values and personal beliefs. However, when life comes at me unexpectedly, that’s when I’m most likely to veer away from my core values. For a few years, I lost sight of some of my core values, and as a result, I felt disappointed in myself and where my life was headed. I’ve made a turnaround by rediscovering and reconnecting with what matters the most to me. As a result, my thoughts and behavior have changed over time. I feel happier, more fulfilled, and more myself than I’ve felt in years.
CORE VALUES OF MINE
When I understood the importance of having values and did some exercises to discover mine, many aspects of my life began to make more sense. I had a deeper understanding of why I reacted the way I did in certain situations, why I loved some experiences more than others, and why I enjoyed some people’s company more than others. Here are some of my values that help keep me grounded, motivated and living life on purpose.
- Learning
- Improvement
- Relationships
- Responsibility
- Experiences
- Faith
- Hard work
Here is a list of personal values to inspire you as you discover yours. Your values are unique and personal to you. So, as you uncover what they are, go a step further and explain why that particular value is significant to you. Attaching a strong “why” to your values will add meaning to them and allow you to stay more connected to them. For example, I value learning because if we aren’t learning, we aren’t growing, and without growth, we don’t make progress and become better versions of ourselves.
FOUR IDEAS TO CONSIDER AS YOU UNCOVER YOUR VALUES
Think about the times when you’ve felt most like yourself—for example, talking about specific ideas, experiencing a new adventure, spending time with someone, being in a particular environment, etc.
Think about the times when you were at your lowest. What makes you angry, disappointed, frustrated? Think back to a particular experience or person that upset you and reflect on why the person or experience was upsetting. Identifying what you don’t stand for can say a great deal about what you do stand for.
Think about how you want to be remembered by people you love. What kind of person do you want to become? How do you want your friends and family to describe you at the end of your life? How do you want people to describe you right now?
Personality assessments are a great tool to help you discover your values and gain a deeper understanding of who you are. You can take this process a step further by taking some personality tests to learn more about yourself. I would highly recommend the Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment. However, there are many free personality assessments as well. I also like the Enneagram and Myers Briggs.
THREE WAYS TO LIVE OUT YOUR VALUES EVERYDAY
Once you’ve identified your values, living by them is essential. Values are meant to guide your life; therefore, your values should reflect all that you do. Here are three ways you can consistently stay connected to your core values.
IDENTIFY HABITS AND ROUTINES THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR VALUES
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear states that “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” Living out your values requires your habits and routines to be in alignment with them. For example, one of my core values is responsibility. I like to keep my word to myself and others; I feel lousy and disappointed when I don’t and happy and proud when I do. When you are living in alignment with your core values, you should feel good about yourself. Regularly assess your habits and routines to ensure that your values are reflected in everything you do.
REVISIT YOUR VALUES OFTEN
Your values and beliefs may shift over time. Revisiting your values often helps you stay closely connected to them and allows you to revise them when necessary. Life can get so busy and overwhelming. Reconnecting with what is most important to you helps you to navigate the hard times a little easier.
SHARE WITH OTHERS
Sharing what is most important to you with people who love and support you builds trust and connection. Additionally, sharing your values with others can help keep you more accountable. Accountability with others helps keep you honest, consistent and raises self-awareness. Standing by your values isn’t always easy, but staying true to your values will always be worth it when you know what is important to you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Your core values guide how you live your life. Identifying your core values is essential to living a life of purpose and meaning. Core values help keep you focused on what’s most important to you, help you navigate the hard times a little easier, and living in alignment with what matters to you ultimately increases happiness and wellbeing.
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