Discovering Your Core Values for a More Fulfilling Life: A Guided Exercise
- Luis Felipe Godinez
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Understanding your core values can significantly transform your life. These values shape how you lead your life, help you define your goals, and measure your overall fulfillment. Your values illuminate what matters to you right now—not what you hope to achieve in the future. This article offers a guided exercise to help you discover and connect with your essential values.
Why Are Values Important?
Values are the guiding principles that direct your decisions. They motivate you and inspire your actions, defining your sense of purpose across various aspects of life, including personal and professional areas. When you know what truly matters to you, you can make more authentic decisions that lead to deeper satisfaction and meaning.
The Values List
Here’s a list of potential values to consider as you reflect on your own. This list is a starting point, and you are encouraged to modify it or add in values that resonate more with your individuality: Examples of values.
Accomplishment
Adventure
Authenticity
Balance
Compassion
Creativity
Freedom
Growth
Joy
10. Love
11. Meaningful work
12. Integrity
Guided Exercise
Now, let's uncover what resonates with you. Follow these steps to explore your core values:
Highlight: Go through the values list above and highlight the ones that resonate with you in yellow.
Rank: On a separate sheet or document, rank these values by priority. Consider which values are non-negotiable in your life in this moment in time not your past self or who you aspire to be.
Satisfaction Rating: Rate your satisfaction with each value on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = lowest, 10 = highest).
This exercise will clarify what is crucial to you and reveal how fulfilled you feel living according to these values.
Reflection
Once you have completed the exercise, take some time to reflect. Ask yourself: How do these values show up in your daily life? Are there areas where you experience a disconnect? For example, you might find that compassion drives your personal relationships, but achievement takes center stage at work. Understanding these dynamics empowers you to make intentional changes that align your life more closely with your core values.
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