We often associate the term core values with business mission statements or motivational posters in corporate offices. But truthfully, core values aren’t reserved for boardrooms—they’re just as essential for us as individuals. At their heart, core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide our actions, shape our choices, and form the foundation of a meaningful life.
When you align your day-to-day behavior with your personal core values, you tap into a deep sense of purpose and clarity. Life starts to feel less like a blur of obligations and more like an intentional journey. If you’re ready to gain that kind of clarity, this guide will walk you through how to discover, define, and embody your core values in a way that’s both practical and inspiring.
What Are Core Values, Really?
Core values are the inner compass that quietly directs your decisions, even when you’re not fully aware of it. These aren’t fleeting preferences like “I enjoy coffee over tea.” They’re the deeply rooted beliefs that help you navigate the world—principles like honesty, growth, creativity, connection, or justice.
Living in alignment with your core values doesn’t mean life becomes perfect, but it becomes truer—more fulfilling, less conflicted, and more in tune with who you really are. Think of your core values as your personal GPS: when you drift away from them, you feel lost or unmotivated. When you move toward them, you find flow and satisfaction.
How to Begin: Find Your Core Values
There’s no magic list that tells you what your core values should be. The beauty of this process is that your values are entirely personal. Here’s how to begin uncovering them:
Step 1: Write Your Own Obituary
This may sound morbid, but it’s an incredibly powerful exercise. Imagine you’ve lived a full, vibrant life and someone is writing your obituary. What would you want it to say? What kind of person were you? What did you stand for? What impact did you leave?
Don’t rush. Let yourself dream boldly and write with honesty. This exercise pulls your deepest priorities to the surface—those values that, if fully realized, would make you proud of your life.
Step 2: Highlight the Patterns
Now, read what you’ve written. Look for repeated words, recurring themes, and emotional triggers. These are clues. Maybe the word exploration pops up again and again, or phrases like helping others, staying curious, or building community. Underline them and take note.
Step 3: Build Your First Draft List
With your highlighted themes in mind, browse a few lists of values online—not to copy, but to spark ideas. Write down any words that make your heart beat a little faster. Don’t overthink it. If a word resonates, jot it down. Aim for a list of 15–20 values at this stage.
Step 4: Deep Dive Into the Words
Take each word and write a short paragraph about what it means to you. When have you felt most aligned with this value? What situations brought it to life? If writing feels easy and energizing, that’s a good sign the value is authentic to you.
Step 5: Narrow It Down
Now comes the hard part—choose your top 3 to 10 values. These should be the ones that feel essential to who you are and who you want to become. If you have more than 10, try combining similar ones (for example, “creativity” and “self-expression” could become one). Remember, clarity is key—having fewer core values makes them easier to remember and apply.
Living Your Core Values Daily
Identifying your values is only the first step. The true transformation happens when you start bringing them into your daily life.
Step 1: Make Them Visible
Print out your core values in big, bold letters. Make them into a poster, a phone wallpaper, or a journal insert—whatever keeps them front and center in your life. Place them where you’ll see them regularly: your workspace, bathroom mirror, or even your fridge door.
The goal? You want them to become as familiar to you as your own name.
Step 2: Weekly Check-Ins
Every week, take 10–15 minutes to reflect on your values and your recent actions. Ask yourself:
- Am I living in alignment with these values?
- Which values did I honor this week?
- Where did I fall short—and why?
To help organize your thoughts, consider breaking life into categories—mental wellness, relationships, health, finances, career, spirituality, and so on. Identify where your values are shining and where there’s room for growth.
Step 3: Tailor Your Values to Specific Areas
As you grow more comfortable living from your core values, get even more intentional. Create sub-lists for specific areas of your life. For instance:
- Career Values: Integrity, Impact, Collaboration
- Relationship Values: Vulnerability, Loyalty, Joy
- Parenting Values: Patience, Curiosity, Empathy
You can even do this with a partner, family member, or close friend. Shared values can form a powerful foundation for deeper connection and shared goals.
The Takeaway: A Framework for a Freer Life
Your core values are more than abstract concepts. They are a filter for decision-making, a source of motivation, and a foundation for lasting fulfillment. They help you live not just a life, but your life—the one that feels aligned, authentic, and alive.
So take the time. Reflect. Dream. Define what truly matters. Then, step by step, build a life that honors those values every single day. You don’t need to be perfect—just committed. Your core values are your guide, not your ruler.
And remember, living in alignment with your values isn’t about being rigid. It’s about living with intention. When your choices reflect what matters most to you, that’s when life begins to feel truly yours.
So what do you value? And more importantly—are you living like it?
