What are the life values that you live by? Have you thought about them? Have you written them down? Do they actually make a difference in your daily life? Your values aren’t simply words that you live by. They are the lens through which you design your life, make decisions, and build your dreams and goal.
This is why taking the time to consider your ideals is so important. So, we’re sharing with you four steps to discovering (or even re-discovering) your life values to create the life you always dreamed of.
Why is it important to discover your life values?
What does your life look like 5, 10, 20 years down the road and beyond? Consider all the decisions, changes, and growth that must happen to get you to your ideal future self. You don’t want to wander aimlessly toward the future, so it’s helpful to have a set of values to live by that will help you get to where you want to go. That’s what we call your personal life values.
What are your life values?
What do your life values consist of? Simply put, they are words to encapsulate what’s most important to you, your morals, and your ideals. These words should move you and compel you to act on making them a reality. Here are four steps you can take to find those words for yourself.
Step 1: Evaluate your passions.
The first step in discovering your life values is to simply consider what you’re passionate about. The things that make you happy, fulfilled, and joyful are the things that you should pursue. To find what these are, ask yourself and write down the answers to the following questions.
Questions to ask yourself:
- What lights my soul on fire?
- When have I felt most satisfied or fulfilled in life?
- What accomplishments am I most proud of?
The answers to these questions can be anything you want them to be. Maybe “Travel” is something that lights your soul on fire. Write it down! “Adventure” or “Wander” are both also fitting. Answering these questions is a great start because if it makes you happy and passionate about life, you deserve to pursue it.
Step 2: Consider your impact.
The next step is to think long–term. We’re all wired with a longing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Thinking beyond what makes you happy is crucial in considering the impact you want to make on those around you.
Questions to ask yourself:
- How do I want to make people feel?
- How do I want to spend most of my time?
- What do I want to leave behind? What’s my “legacy”?
Some of the words that may show up here are “Family,” “Legacy,” “Community,” “Generosity,” and so on. You can also write down full statements to get you started. You’ll be able to narrow that thought down to a word or two that remains meaningful to you.
Step 3: Brainstorm words (life values) to live by.
We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential words that embody your life values. The questions above are only a jumping off point. So, we encourage you to get creative with it! If you need help, here are a few more words to consider:
- Abundance
- Authenticity
- Bravery
- Commitment
- Excellence
- Faith
- Family
- Gratitude
- Happiness
- Humor
- Integrity
- Joy
- Love
- Playfulness
- Prosperity
- Service
- Strength
- Uniqueness
- Wisdom
There are no limits to what your life values can be. That’s what is so special about them! For a more robust list of words to consider, check out this extensive core values list.
The goal here in step 3 is to write down a list of words that move your soul and make you feel excited.
Step 4: Pick your top 3 to 5 words.
Lastly, narrow down our list to your top core values. Coming up with 3 to 5 words may seem like a big feat, but it’s possible! Because these values will serve as a guide, you want to be sure they are what matters most! You don’t want to be pulled in too many directions. Consolidate your list, and land on the words that you can’t live without.
Discover your life values and live by them.
Now that you have your list (or maybe you’ve even re-discovered and re-connected with your values), it’s time to live by them! Your values are there to direct your steps along this journey. So let them!
