How to Identify Your Core Values?

How to Identify Your Values? - Video

We always take time to research and reflect about companies' corporate values, but when was the last time that you revisited your personal core values?

I took some time this morning to reflect about my own personal values and how to identify my values. These exercises to determine core life values are so important that I had to share it with you! When you identify your values, you can have focused and easier decisions on what are the next right steps for you, your life and your career.

So let's go! Let's find your personal core values together!

Method 1: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying

While working on palliative care, Brownie Ware captured her experiences and discoveries, on her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.

She noted that the top five regrets of her dying patients were:

1. I wish I’d have the courage to live life true to myself, not the life others expected of me

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard, and so much

3. I wish I’d have the courage to express my feelings more

4. I wish I’d been better at staying in touch with my friends

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier

Read this list and reflect on:

• What regrets resonated with you?

• Why?

• What actions could you take to avoid these regrets?

Method 2: Reply to the following questions

what do I ALWAYS make time, energy and money for, no matter what?

• what things am I doing that totally make me lose track of time?

• what things do I prioritize naturally?

• What gives me the most joy and energy?

• What inspires me?

• etc.

Method 3: Start with a list of values

Work with a list of values, and select a few that do resonate with you and that are truly important in your life.

There is no right or wrong answer, what matters is that you stay true to yourself.

Once you are clear about what truly matters, select your top 5.

I really love the Dare to Lead list of values by Brené Brown:

Examples:

Accountability

Achievement

Authenticity

Adventure

Ambition

Authenticity

and so many others

When doing this task, allow yourself time to do it, so that your final list feels right for you. It might take a few minutes, hours, or even days. It is a process, not perfection.

Once you have reflected about my values, use simple words and statements to describe them. Select five, and attach a meaning to them, by replying to the question “why is this value important to me?”

For example: on my list of values, some themes and topics went hand in hand, so I combined them into one single value

My list of values

My list of core values, right now is:

• Authenticity, honesty and unique experiences

  • This is important to me because:

  • “The world needs you, not the person you think you should be” - Ashley Stahl

  • I also wrote that when I am not being me, I feel out of balance, like something is missing. I don’t want to feel that way. I want to feel fantastic.

• My second value is Personal development:

  • I want to continuously learn how to be the best version of myself, to serve myself and others at my full potential, happy and fulfilled

• Value 3: Health and wellness

  • I need to feel good to do good. Wellbeing is so important, I love to feel at my best, look my best and feel fantastic everyday. And I want to still feel this way at the age of 90.

• Value 4: Relationships, connection and intimacy:

  • I love to spend time with people who make me feel heard and seen, with whom I truly connect and can be vulnerable around. And the other way.

  • Time goes by when you are having intimate and deep conversations.

• Value 5: emipowered

  • I love helping others and I want others on this planet to fulfill their boundless potential and become who they want to be, no matter their background!

What are your core values?