In the last topic, we considered a range of questions around values. You’d have noticed that we didn’t go straight to writing up your values. Thinking about values related questions, where you reflect on your past experiences and formative relationships, provides a broader and deeper perspective around what you hold as most important in your life. Now we can review the answers to the questions from the previous exercise and begin to put together a list of your core values.

Define your values

Write a list of your core values (try for a minimum of 5 values). Use the answers from the previous exercise to help you hone in on your values. Remember, values are simply the character traits, attributes or goals that you value most in your life. Values are by definition ranked in importance. When comparing two values, you could ask, which do I value more? For example, I might value financial independence and I might value fun. When confronting a decision to engage in a fun, but expensive activity, you might use your values to guide the decision. ie; which do I value more here, fun or financial independence? If it is financial independence, you might pass on this activity and save the money.

This leads us to the importance of values in self-regulation. In the next exercise, we will look to bring values based actions into our daily and weekly routines.

Some examples of Values are listed below. You needed use any of these, they are simply prompts to help you if required.

Values