Get Clear on Core Values

Do you have difficulty making confident decisions? Or do you end up making decisions that make you unhappy even though you thought you were doing the right thing?

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The first step to making better, faster decisions is getting clear on what drives you: your Core Values.

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Core Values are traits or qualities that represent an individual's highest priorities, deeply held beliefs, and core, fundamental driving forces. They are the heart of what you do and what you stand for in the world.

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This exercise inspired by Brené Brown and others will help you narrow down your Core Values by following 2 simple steps.

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Step 1: Check off all the words here that sound like an important value to you personally and how you live your life.

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Authenticity

Achievement

Adventure

Authority

Autonomy

Balance

Beauty

Boldness

Compassion

Challenge

Community

Competency

Contribution

Creativity

Curiosity

Determination

Fairness

Faith

Fame

Friendships

Fun

Growth

Happiness

Honesty

Humor

Influence

Inner Harmony

Justice

Kindness

Knowledge

Leadership

Learning

Love

Loyalty

Meaningful Work

Openness

Optimism

Peace

Popularity

Recognition

Religion

Reputation

Respect

Responsibility

Security

Self-Respect

Service

Spirituality

Stability

Success

Status

Trustworthiness

Wealth

Wisdom

Other (You choose!)

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Answer the following in writing:

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Having identified important values, how do you think you will feel when you’re truly living your values?

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What are examples of powerful moments you lived your values and how it shaped or changed the relationship you have with yourself and the world?

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What are other examples of when you felt like you were slipping?

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Step 2: Return to your list in Step 1, and select two "Core Values" out of your original list. This may be difficult, but a process of elimination is usually best. You can always change it later, but choose what feels most true for you right now.

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Complete the exercise by answering the following in writing:

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What two values did you come away with?

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Why are those two values important to you?

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Now it's time to align! What decisions can you make today to align with your two Core Values? What decisions can you STOP making that don’t align with your Core Values?

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