Have you ever thought about what’s truly important to you in life?
I’m talking about your core values – the guiding principles that define who you are and what you stand for.
Knowing your core values is a powerful thing. It’s one of the most foolproof ways to live a life that really makes a difference.
The problem is, not many people actually sit down and think about what matters most to them in life. They simply go through the motions and let life happen to them, going with the flow even when they don’t want to.
So, how can knowing your core values help you live your best life?
In this article, I’ll tackle that and show you how helpful they can be. Here are the ways your core values can help you grow in every area of your life!
1) They increase your self-awareness
Let’s begin with the starting point of core values – self-awareness.
It’s easy to rattle off a list of values and declare that these are what matter to you. But the truth is, core values vary from person to person.
Simply put, what matters most to you might not be what I value most in my life. Values are not a one-size-fits-all thing.
This means you’ll have to sit down and listen to your heart. Get to know what drives you in life and what you stand for.
Understanding your values gives you a better understanding of what matters most to you, which can give you a deeper sense of who you are and what you stand for.
And even when you’ve defined your core values, it doesn’t stop there. You’ll need to regularly reflect on yourself to check if you’re living in alignment with those values.
What does this constant self-reflection mean for you?
Well, that’s the beauty of it – when you know yourself intimately, you can live life in a more meaningful way!
That’s because…
2) Core values give your life a sense of purpose and direction
When you know what’s important to you, it’s easier to make decisions and set goals that align with your values.
No more feeling lost or unsure of what you want out of life.
Your values act like a compass that tells you where to go so you don’t get lost in the chaos of life.
They form the foundation – your fundamental beliefs that remind you who you are and who you’re meant to be in this world.
There’s an old Christian parable that I think illustrates this point best. You might have heard of it – the one about two men who built their houses, one on sand and the other on rock.
That parable might have been talking about the importance of God’s word in the Christian context, but I think it’s a perfect analogy for core values as a whole.
When you don’t have a clear understanding of your core values, you’ll be on shaky ground, just like the foolish man with a house built on sand.
Pretty soon, that house – or in your case, your life – will fall apart at the slightest disturbance.
But when you’ve got your core values to guide you, you’ll be able to stand firm.
Yes, life might get chaotic, but you’ve got a strong foundation to help you pull through. You know exactly where your life’s going and what your role in the world is.
3) They make decision-making easier
Decisions, decisions.
For those who don’t know what they value most, making decisions can be absolutely nerve-wracking.
How do you know which decision to make? How do you know which one will give you the best outcome? What if it all goes horribly wrong?
Well, when you know your core values, decision-making becomes much more systematic and painless.
Why? Because they can serve as a yardstick by which to measure the wisdom of a decision.
When you’re faced with a tough choice, your core values can serve as a moral compass to guide you. You’ll know what you stand for and what’s right for you.
You want to make sure that the decisions you make align with your core values. Sure, some decisions might seem like no-brainers, but if they don’t align with your values, you won’t have peace of mind.
And as you probably know by now, you can’t put a price on peace of mind.
If decision-making is a struggle for you, I highly recommend using the Life Journal.
Created by the highly successful teacher and life coach Jeannette Brown, it’s a course that has absolutely helped me harness the power of my core values to become a more decisive person.
Decisions used to paralyze me, but after taking her course, I felt like I was ready to take charge and be in control of my life.
If this sounds good to you, check out Life Journal here.
4) They help you build stronger relationships
Core values aren’t just useful for figuring out your life’s purpose. They are also essential for building more meaningful relationships.
How so?
When you live by your values, you attract people who share those same values. That makes for more harmonious and fulfilling relationships.
For instance, if one of your core values is “serving others,” you’ll likely be driven to pursuits that involve helping others, such as community service. And for sure, you will meet and connect with like-minded people along the way.
Isn’t it amazing to think that you can share your life with people who hold the same values you do?
5) They lead to personal growth
One of the things I really appreciate from knowing what my core values are is the never-ending opportunity for personal growth.
I just love feeling inspired and motivated because I know I’m on the right path.
Because here’s the thing: your values serve as a benchmark for tracking your actions and progress.
You can see how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go in terms of fulfilling your potential.
You’ll also have a greater sense of accountability for your actions, which can help you become a more responsible person.
And once you can do that, there’s nowhere to go but up!
That also explains why…
6) Core values improve your well-being
Living in alignment with your values can bring peace and contentment, leading to better overall mental and emotional well-being.
According to a study, commitment to personal values is associated with better mental health and well-being.
Think about everything I’ve discussed so far.
All the benefits – personal growth, a sense of purpose, harmonious relationships, less stress from decision-making, and so on…
All of these add up to make you an inspired and happy person!
7) They help develop resilience
It’s not just about happiness, too. It’s also about resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity and challenges.
Building resilience takes time, effort, and support from the people around you. But it gets so much easier when you have a set of values to guide you.
These values help you see the big picture and remind you once again of your life’s purpose. They help you sift through the noise and disappointments and focus on what matters.
And you know what? When you can do that, you’ll find that you have the strength to rise up again and dust yourself off!
8) They help develop positive habits
We all want to say we do things that are good for us.
But the reality is that sometimes life gets in the way and before we know it, all our good intentions and resolutions have fallen by the wayside.
That’s where your core values come in and make a difference.
I’ll give you an example of how defining my core values helped me develop habits that align with those values.
While making my list, I put down “family” as one of them.
But when I closely examined my habits, I found that I was guilty of spending too much time at work and failing to spend quality time with my loved ones.
Even while I was home, my mind would be back at the office, thinking about that report I needed to turn in, or that meeting I was nervous about.
Because of this realization, I was able to see how I could change my lifestyle to reflect my values more closely.
I started really paying attention at home – movie night became something my husband and I could look forward to without me zoning out in the middle of the movie.
I also began visiting my mom more, something that really makes her happy!
If I hadn’t sat down and made my list, I would never have realized I was neglecting one of the most important things in my life!
9) They bring about an overall sense of satisfaction
All of this points to one thing – knowing your core values and living a life that’s true to that will bring a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
There’s nothing like knowing that the things you do intentionally serve your values. Instead of drifting aimlessly through life, you are taking control and making every move count!
In every area of your life, whether it’s professional or personal, your core values act like a lamp that lights your path and shows you where to go.
At the end of the day, this is what matters most – that you are living an authentic and meaningful life.
How to define your core values
Ready to take charge of your life? Follow these steps to discover what means most in life to you:
Reflect
Take time to think about what’s important to you, your beliefs, and what gives your life meaning.
Identify
Make a list of words or phrases that describe your values, such as honesty, family, or adventure.
There are no right or wrong answers here – keep in mind that you have a unique set of values that may be different from those of others.
Prioritize
Order your values based on what’s most important to you.
Evaluate
Assess how your current life aligns with your values and identify areas for improvement.
For example, let’s say you’ve identified generosity as one of your core values. Then, ask yourself some questions:
- Do you find it easy to help other people?
- Do you willingly share your time and resources with others?
- Do you practice self-love and self-care?
- What are some instances when you’ve actually gone out of your way to help someone?
Questions like these can help you see if you truly are able to fulfill these values with your actions. You’ll be able to see the areas you need to improve on.
Clarify
Refine your list of values to a set of three to seven core values that truly reflect your priorities and beliefs.
Live
Incorporate your core values into daily decision-making and behavior. Start with small habits and build on them over time.
As you do this, it’s a good idea to write down the ways you see yourself demonstrating these values each day.
This turns your values from abstract concepts into concrete actions, which is really helpful for measuring your progress.
Do constant re-evaluation
Continuously reflect and re-evaluate your values as they may change over time. Remember, you are a work in progress!
If all this sounds overwhelming to you, you can do what I did – take advantage of Jeannette Brown’s Life Journal!
With Jeannette’s expert guidance, you’ll be able to clarify the principles that keep you driven and motivated.
Final thoughts
So there you have it – the ways in which a clear understanding of your core values can make a huge impact on your life!
It can help you make better decisions, improve your relationships, and find meaning and purpose. Believe me, once you nail your core values down, you’ll feel renewed and motivated.
It’s never too late to start discovering your core values, so why not give it a try today? By doing so, you’ll be on your way to living your best life!
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