Discovering Your Core Values: A Guide to Living in Alignment

Core values are the guiding principles and beliefs that shape how we live, make decisions, and interact with the world around us. They influence our emotions, reactions, and overall sense of fulfillment. If you ever find yourself feeling unhappy or dissatisfied, it may be because your core values are out of alignment with your current reality. Understanding and identifying your core values can help you make meaningful changes and live a more authentic life.

How to Identify and Understand Your Core Values

Self-Reflection

Think about the moments in your life when you felt truly fulfilled, proud, or motivated. What were you doing? Who were you with? These experiences can offer clues about what matters most to you.

Prioritise Key Experiences

Look back at significant milestones or achievements and examine why they were important. Identify common themes that emerge from these moments.

Identify What Matters

Consider different areas of your life—relationships, career, personal growth, community, health, and spirituality. What are the values that guide your choices in these areas? What would you be willing to stand up for or sacrifice? What do you consider to be non-negotiable in these areas?

Be Authentic

Your values should be a true reflection of who you are, not what others expect of you. Be honest with yourself and avoid choosing values based on external pressures.

Envision Your Ideal Life

Imagine your perfect life, both personally and professionally. What does it look like? How do you feel? Who is there with you? What values are clearly evident in this vision?

Seek Feedback

Sometimes, those who know us best can see things we overlook. Ask close friends or family members what values they see you living by.

Narrow Down Your List

Aim to identify 5-10 core values that resonate most deeply with you. These should be the principles that guide your decisions and define your purpose.

Test Your Values

Live intentionally by these values for a while. Do they feel right? Are they helping you make better decisions and feel more aligned with yourself?

Revisit and Adjust

As you grow and evolve, your values may shift. Periodically reassess them to ensure they still reflect who you are and where you’re headed.

Reflect

To help uncover your core values, take some time to reflect on the following questions. Writing down your answers in a journal can be a valuable exercise in self-discovery.

What principles are you most passionate about?
What are three things that are most important to you?
What are your top priorities in life?
What experiences have been the most meaningful?
What values do you want to pass on to your children or others?
How do you want to make a difference in the world?
What motivates you?
Are there expectations you hold for yourself? Are they truly yours or influenced by others?
Who and what influences your decisions and life choices?
What themes or rules do you naturally live by?
If time and money were unlimited, what would you do?
What are three things on your bucket list?
What do you like most about yourself? What would you like to improve?
How do you define happiness and fulfillment?
When do you feel most at peace?

The Journey of Self-Discovery

Discovering your core values is an ongoing process, not a one-time exercise. Take your time and allow your values to evolve as you grow. The more you understand what truly matters to you, the better equipped you'll be to make choices that align with your authentic self—leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.