Have you ever felt like you’re adrift in the ocean of life? You make decisions, you go through the motions, but there’s a nagging feeling that you’re not heading in a direction that feels truly yours. This sense of being lost often comes from a disconnection from our core values. So, let’s explore the important question: what are your core values?
Think of your values as your personal compass. They are the internal, guiding principles that point you toward your “True North.” They are the qualities of action and being that you want to stand for, regardless of the situation. Unlike a goal, which is a destination you can reach, a value is a direction you live by, day in and day out.
Knowing your values is the difference between wandering aimlessly and navigating your life with a sense of purpose. As the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously wrote:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
Your values are your “why.”
What Are Core Values (And What They Are Not)?
To understand what are your core values, it helps to be clear on a few things. Core values are your heart’s deepest desires for how you want to show up in the world. They are words like Compassion, Creativity, Adventure, Connection, or Integrity.
It’s also helpful to know what they are not:
- They are not goals. A goal is something you can achieve and check off a list (like “run a marathon”). A value is a direction you can always move toward (like “health” or “perseverance”). You live by your values even after you’ve achieved your goals.
- They are not feelings. Feelings are fleeting. You won’t always feel creative or compassionate. But you can always choose to act in a creative or compassionate way.
- They are not morals. While related, morals and ethics are often about what society deems right or wrong. Values are deeply personal. They are about what is most meaningful and important to you.
Why Knowing Your Values is a Game-Changer
When you have a clear sense of your core values, your life begins to shift in powerful ways.
- It simplifies decisions. When faced with a choice, big or small, you can ask a simple question: “Does this action move me closer to, or further away from, my values?” Your compass makes the path clearer.
- It fuels your motivation. Values provide a deep, renewable source of motivation. They are the reason you get up and try again, even when things are hard.
- It builds resilience. Living a life aligned with your values creates a profound sense of meaning that can anchor you during life’s storms.
Discover Your Direction: Introducing the Values Compass
So, how do you figure out your values? It can be hard to pick them out of thin air. That’s why we created the Values Compass.
This is a simple, interactive card-sort exercise. We’ll present you with a list of common values, and you’ll sort them into categories based on how important they are to you. This gentle process helps you to reflect and narrow down the list to identify your top 3-5 core values, your personal True North.
➡️ Open the Values Compass Tool to Find Your Values
Living Your Values: The Next Step
Discovering your values is a powerful moment of clarity. The next step is to put them into action. Look at your top value and ask yourself:
“What is one small thing I can do today that would be an expression of this value?”
If your value is “Connection,” maybe you send a text to a friend. If it’s “Learning,” maybe you read an interesting article for ten minutes. Our Activity Lift Tool can help you brainstorm and schedule these small, value-driven actions.
Your Compass for a Meaningful Life
Your core values are already within you. This exercise is simply about bringing them into the light. Once you see them clearly, they become a trusted guide you can use for the rest of your life, always there to help you find your way back to what truly matters.