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Value-informed choices

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TL;DR: We all have a unique perspective on what is important in life; understanding what drives us and what is important to us can help us make better choices. 

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Values describe what is most important to us, what motivates us in life. They are our deepest inner desires; they describe what we need and how we want to be toward ourselves, others, and the world around us. Knowing our values deepens our self-awareness and can give a sense of “Knowing who we are”. 

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Core values  

We have many values, but they are not all equally important. Some values feel more essential; they point to who we are at our core. Identifying them - maybe four to five - can help inform our choices and serve as guides in our lives.

 

Identifying core values

When we experience strong emotions, there might be core values in play. If we e.g. feel happy, angry, or sad - something in our experience is moving us in our core. This “something” can point us to our core values. We define them; they can change and evolve - they are ours.

 

Examples 

Below is a table with examples of what values can be. They are typically “verbs” expressed as nouns. We can also describe them with several words, and add a descriptive text to them - to helps us relate better to them.

  • Authenticity

  • Achievement

  • Activism

  • Adventure

  • Autonomy

  • Balance

  • Beauty

  • Boldness

  • Compassion

  • Challenge

  • Clarity

  • Community

  • Competency

  • Connection

  • Control

  • Contribution

  • Creativity

  • Creation

  • Curiosity

  • Determination

  • Empathy

  • Excellence  

  • Fairness

  • Faith

  • Family

  • Freedom

  • Friendships

  • Fun

  • Growth

  • Happiness

  • Harmony

  • Honesty

  • Humor

  • Influence

  • Inclusivity

  • Justice

  • Kindness

  • Knowledge

  • Leadership

  • Learning

  • Love

  • Loyalty

  • Nature

  • Nourishment

  • Meaning

  • Openness

  • Optimism

  • Peace

  • Play

  • Pleasure

  • Purpose

  • Recognition

  • Relationship

  • Religion

  • Reputation

  • Respect

  • Responsibility

  • Security

  • Self-Respect

  • Sensuality

  • Service

  • Spirituality

  • Stability

  • Success

  • Status

  • Trust

  • Wealth

  • Wisdom

Values as guides

Knowing our values can help us focus on what matters most to us. They can help us navigate and choose our own path among so many options - offered by other people and by society.     

 

To let go of how we should “be” and what we should “do” in favour of what feels true to us and brings us alive. Every moment we make choices about how to spend our time, what to pay attention to, and where we direct our energy. Whether conscious or unconscious, our values influence these choices - and thereby also our actions, our relationships, our goals, and our sense of purpose.

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Balance

As we naturally make choices based on values, we might also overprioritize some and underprioritize others. This might be because of life circumstances or just because of habits. Some might not get much priority and would feel good to pay more attention to, while others get filled so much that it drains us or affects us negatively in other ways. Different values might also create inner conflict if they somehow work against each other. Awareness gives choice. ​​​

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Other people 

​Knowing our own values can also help us relate to other people, as we can communicate what we need more clearly and better understand how others respond. It also helps us empathise with their needs and perspectives, recognising that they may be different from our own. ​​​By understanding that our values are personal rather than universal truths, we become more self-aware, empathetic, and respectful of others' differences.  

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Values in practice

When we honor our values, life feels good. When not, something feels off.

Everyone has a unique take on what’s important in life. Here are some questions designed to help bring your values into practice:​

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Knowing

  • What is the one word (or a few) that represents your core values? 

  • What are 2-3 words for each that add flavor to the "one word"?  

  • Would an image or descriptive text for each value be helpful? 

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Noticing

  • How are my values currently showing up in my life?

  • Which values feel well honoured? Are any exhausted or neglected?

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Living

  • What am I doing to honour each value?

  • How am I being to honour each value?

  • What is one small action I could take today?

  • What could I do this month or this year?

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Guiding​

  • Can my value help in any decisions I am currently facing? 

  • How can my values help me choose a direction?

  • Are any of my values in tension with one another? If so, how can I honour both?

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