A Definition of values
“(Values) are the principles that give our lives meaning and allow us to persevere through adversity”
- The Self-Confidence Workbook.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
- Choose your top 6-8 values from a wide-ranging list of values.
Think of three to six people you most admire or love. Consider why they are so important to you.
See a career counsellor as they are able to help match their clients to a compatible career area.
- Use an online values inventory.
- Observe yourself and learn. If you experience a lot of dissatisfaction with your choices, you may not be living up to your values or you may need to re-evaluate what is most important to you.
- Focus on the bitter and the sweet in your life. These moments could direct you to what you care about most.
At times two cherished values will be in conflict.
Knowing why you are choosing Value 1 instead of Value 2 in that instance can be helpful in resolving any inner conflict you may feel.
RELATED IDEAS
Values can be personified in people that you love and admire. Identifying the specific values embodied by your heroes can inspire you to adopt those values for yourself. To uncover the values that you associate with your loved ones and role models:
- Identify and write down six people who are important role models or valued connections for you.
- Think of the values they embody.
The core values that are most valuable to each of us come from our own personal experience, not from being taught.
As you put them into practice you’ll get better at internalizing these values and they’ll express themselves subconsciously with smaller decisions, as well.
- Start with a beginner’s mind, someone with no preconceived notions of what is.
- Create your list of personal values.
- Chunk your personal values into related groups.
- Highlight the central theme of each value group.
- Determine your top Personal Core Values. Whittle your list down to 5 - 10 core values and rank them in order of importance.
- Give your personal values richer context. Highlight values into memorable phrases or sentences.
- Test the ecology of each value. Review your list a day later: Are they personal to you? Do you see any values that feel inconsistent?