If someone followed you for a week, what would they say you value most?

And – would they be right?

For many people, there’s a gap between what they say they value and what their actions reflect. Not because they’re dishonest, but because they’ve never taken the time to consciously define their core values. They’re operating unconsciously. Without having clear values, it’s challenging to make decisions with confidence and clarity. This is dangerous! You can end up moving yourself farther away from what you want. But when you know your core values, and you live by them, everything changes. Decisions become easier. Priorities become clearer. And you stop living life on autopilot, simply doing what society expects of you.

Why Core Values Matter

Your core values are the principles that guide your decisions, shape your priorities, and ultimately define what a meaningful life looks like for you. They act as a compass, helping you navigate career choices, relationships, and personal development.You almost certainly several goals you’re actively working on. But here’s the thing; those goals might be in conflict.For example, you might be a parent who deeply values family time. But you may also have a strong ambition to earn a promotion, which would require longer hours and more time away from your family. Which do you prioritize?Or maybe you value freedom and adventure, but also crave stability and financial security.These tensions are normal. And it’s why knowing your core values is so critical. If you are perfectly clear on what’s most important to you, you can make trade-offs consciously rather than drifting toward decisions based on external pressures.When you understand your core values, you stop chasing what the world tells you should matter and start building a life that actually aligns with who you are. But what if you don’t know what your core values are?

How to Discover Your Core Values

If you’ve never explicitly defined your core values, here’s a simple process to get started:Start with a List of Values. Reviewing a list can spark ideas. Here’s a great resource with common core values. Skim through and note the ones that resonate with you.Reflect on Key Moments. Think about times in your life when you felt most fulfilled. What values were present? Now think of moments that made you deeply frustrated or uncomfortable—what values were being violated?Look at Your Past Decisions. Consider major choices you’ve made in your career and life. What values drove those decisions? Were they good choices in hindsight?Narrow It Down. Aim for around 5 values that truly define who you are and what matters most to you.

Review Your Values Regularly

Defining your core values is just the first step. If they only sit in a journal or a document you never revisit, they won’t have much impact. To truly live by them, they need to be infused into your daily decisions and actions.Write Them Down. Keep your core values somewhere visible, like a note on your phone, a sticky note on your desk, or in your daily planner.Review Them Regularly. Set a reminder to revisit your values regularly, weekly at least. As you review them, ask yourself: Am I living in alignment with these? Where have I drifted?Use Them as a Decision Filter. Before making major choices, check them against your core values. Will this action bring you closer to or further from the life you want?When your values stay top of mind, they become a guiding force in everything you do, helping you make choices that align with the life you truly want to create. I review mine daily, helping ensure that they are top of mind and helping increase the chance that my decisions align with them as much as possible.

My Core Values (and Why They Matter to Me)

To give you an example of what this looks like as well as a bit of insight into what makes me tick, here are my personal core values and how they guide my life and work:

🎭 Creativity. I place a lot of value in innovation and in the exploration of ideas in new and interesting ways. I like to be surprised by seeing things in a different light, and believe that the world is full of possibilities and an infinite number of interesting ways of combining things.
💭 Curiosity. The world is such an interesting place, and there are so many places and ideas to explore. I realize how little I know, and that excites me rather than limits me. My endless curiosity means that I’m never bored, as there’s always something interesting to learn, discover, or explore.
🏋️ Resilience. I’m a firm believer in the need to take control of one’s life and any situation you may find yourself in. Life is going to be rough sometimes, and you need to be ready to stand up to it.
👨‍🏫 Continuous learning. This value pairs nicely with my curiosity. There is so much to learn about in the world, and with the pace of change, being willing and able to learn independently and continuously is extremely important
.⛓️💥 Freedom. Freedom means having the means and ability to work on things I find interesting, to explore ideas that intrigue me, to surround myself with people I want to be around, and to invest my time in a way that lights me up and feels useful to me.
🌈 Optimism. There’s way too much negativity, cynicism, and pessimism in today’s world. I believe you can always choose to find positive aspects of negative situations, and you can choose to believe that things are good and will continue to improve. And bringing a positive energy to the world lets others discover that positive change is possible.These values act as my decision-making framework. If something conflicts with them, I know it’s probably not the right path for me.

What Are Your Core Values?

If you don’t yet know, it’s time to find out! Schedule an appointment with yourself in your calendar, when you’ll be able to have some quiet time alone. Use this time to reflect on your values and write them down. Don’t take it too seriously; it should be a fun exercise, but I know some people worry they might “pick the wrong ones”. Listen to your inner wisdom; you know deep down what is most important to you. Narrow them down to around 5 values that guide your biggest life decisions. If you’re not sure where to start, use the list linked above.

Quotation that I’ve been pondering

Zig Ziglar’s words highlight a simple but profound truth; what we consume, whether it’s information, perspectives, or habits, directly shapes the way we see the world. And that, in turn, influences our actions and the results we create. It’s a powerful reminder that if we want to change our future, we must first be intentional about what we allow into our minds.

“Your input determines your outlook. Your outlook determines your output, and your output determines your future.”

Knowing your core values helps filter this input, ensuring that what we take in aligns with who we truly are and what we want to build in our lives.

Journal prompt

“How am I preventing myself from living the type of life I’d like to live?”

How I Can Help:

When you’re ready to take control of your work life and make work something that works for you, I’ve got you covered! Here’s how I can help:

Join the free 5-Day Foundation-Building Challenge. Start building the essential pillars of your career foundation with this free, step-by-step challenge. It’s a great way to gain clarity, align your values, and take actionable steps toward meaningful change.
Book a Free Discovery Call. Let’s explore where you are, where you want to go, and how I can help you get there. This no-obligation call is the perfect first step to see if my coaching is the right fit for you.
Schedule a Career Strategy Call. Need focused guidance on a specific career challenge? Book a one-on-one coaching session, and let’s work through it together to create actionable solutions. I can help you get un-stuck!