MINDFULNESS
PRACTITIONER
COURSE
LEVEL I, II, III &
MASTER
THE CORE VALUES
WORKBOOK
THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
You might be asking why personal core values are so important? Values are a part of us.
They highlight what we stand for. They can represent our unique, individual essence
and acts as the primary driving force behind our actions and behaviour that provides us
with a set of 'rules' to live by alongside a personal code of conduct.
Values guide our decisions. As Mindfulness Practitioners, we have lots of decisions to make
that will often affect many other people. With a firm understanding of your core values,
decisions, big or small, can be made easier, quicker, and with greater confidence and ease.
Much like the core values that a company will have, our personal core values are there to
guide behaviour and choice. Taking time to understand our core values will help us to
become quick, focused and effective decision-makers, with clear direction. If we don't take
the time to do this or leave them ambiguous, we'll consistently find ourselves wondering
how we get into such a mess.
Although your personal core values may not exactly match anyone else's, understanding
what they are will still help you determine your surrounding culture and make better-
informed decisions.
Most 'smart' people will consciously (or unconsciously) use their personal core values to
choose friendships, relationships and also business partnerships. Our core values also help
us wisely manage our personal resources such as time and money.
Simply put, core values serve us as effective decision-making guidelines that help us to
remain congruent, consistent and balanced in the eyes of other people. No one trusts
anyone who presents themselves as being inconsistent with their pledged values.
Our values should (ideally) determine our priorities in life. Life is usually going pretty well,
and we feel content and satisfied when the decisions we make match our values and
priorities. However, when our decisions don't align with our values, that's when we start
feeling like something's 'wrong' and this can lead to dissatisfaction, frustration and in some
instances, even bitterness or resentment. To avoid this, we must make a real effort to
identify what our values actually are.
THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
How Do I Identify My Values?
Our values are like a compass that points us to our 'true north'. This workbook presents you
with a great exercise that will help you to clearly identify your personal values.
Exercise 1: Can you reflect back on a moment where you felt happy, fulfilled and proud of
yourself? Take some time to describe this moment in detail; identify what elements of this
situation, in particular, led to these feelings of happiness, fulfilment and pride.
1. What were you doing?
2. Were you with other people? Who?
3. What other factors contributed to your happiness?
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
In the same way that we feel happy and fulfilled when we're living out our values, we
can also experience feelings of regret, sadness and emptiness when we are not living
out our values.
Exercise 2: Now take a few moments to consider a time when you felt most regretful?
Describe the details of this situation/memory; what was it specifically that led to these
feelings of regret?
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
Feeling frustrated or unfulfilled can often be a sign that our values might be being
quashed, perhaps by parts of ourselves or by external situations or other people.
Exercise 3: Identify a time when you felt frustrated, unfulfilled, empty or annoyed? Make a
note of the particular elements of this situation that led to these feelings of frustration,
unfulfillment, and emptiness.
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
There are certain activities that we can find ourselves doing that engross us and cause
us to get in the 'flow'. These are usually activities that are challenging, rewarding and
when we're doing them, we often lose track of time.
Exercise 4: Make a list of any activities where you experience this 'flow'? What is it
specifically that you enjoy so much about these activities?
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
There are certain people that we come across in life who we find inspiring and embody
qualities or live lives that we aspire to
Exercise 5: Consider anyone like this that you've come across. Who are your role models?
What qualities about these individuals do you admire?
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
When do other people usually turn to you for help? What qualities and gifts do you
identify in yourself?
Exercise 6: What are my natural gifts and qualities?
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
Exercise 7: Determine your most important values, based on your experiences of inner
peace. Consider why each experience is so memorable and important?
Use the list of common personal values on the next page to help you get started – aim for
approximately 10 top values.
(As you work through this exercise, you may find that some of these values naturally
combine. For example, if you value generosity, philanthropy, and community, you could
say that serving others is one of your top values.)
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
Accountability Effectiveness Practicality
Accuracy Efficiency Purpose
Achievement Empathy Professionalism
Adventurousness Enthusiasm Progress
Authenticity Equality Reliability
Ambition Excellence Resourcefulness
Assertiveness Excitement Restraint
Balance Exploration Relationships
Belonging Expressiveness Security
Boldness Fairness Self Actualisation
Calmness Faith Self-control
Carefulness Freedom Significance
Challenge Generosity Selflessness
Clear-Mindedness Goodness Self-Worth
Commitment Giving Spontaneity
Community Growth Stability
Compassion Hard Work Sharing
Connection Giving Teamwork
Consistency Honesty Temperance
Contentment Hope Truth
Self Improvement Humility Thoroughness
Contribution Independence Timeliness
Certainty Ingenuity Tolerance
Creativity Identity Traditionalism
Decisiveness Increase Trustworthiness
Dependability Justice Truth-seeking
Determination Leadership Understanding
Devoutness Legacy Uniqueness
Diligence Love Unity
Discipline Loyalty Vision
Discretion Obedience Vitality
Diversity Openness Authenticity
Note: Although this list of potential values is thorough, it is not
necessarily complete. Please feel free to add to the list if required.
THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
Exercise 8: Now take a few moments to prioritise your 'top' values
This step is usually the most challenging as you'll have to look deep within yourself.
However, it's also the most important step, because, when you're faced with a decision, you
may have to choose between solutions that will satisfy different values.
This is when it's crucial to know which value is more important to you. Without worrying
about the order, make a list of your top 10 values.
Look at the first two values on the list and ask yourself, 'If I could only satisfy one of these,
which one would I choose?'
Work your way through the list, comparing each value with each of the other values until
you've got your list in the correct order for you.
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
Exercise 9: Reaffirming your values - Now take a few moments to check your top-
priority values, and make sure they fit with your life and your vision for yourself.
1. Do these values you've chosen make you feel good about yourself
2. Are you proud of your top three values?
3. Would you be comfortable to tell people you respect about your values?
4. Do these values represent things you would support, even if your choice weren’t popular,
and it puts you in the minority?
When you take into consideration your values in decision making, you can be certain to
keep a sense of integrity and what you know is right, while being able to approach
decisions with confidence and clarity.
You'll also know that what you're currently doing is motivated by the progress that you
want to make in life. It's not always easy to make value-based choices, but it will more than
likely make life much easier in the long run.
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THE CORE VALUES WORKBOOK
KEY POINTS:
- Identifying and taking the time to understand your values is an important and challenging
exercise. Your personal values are central to who you are – and who you want to become.
- By becoming more aware of these important factors in your life, you can use them as a
guide to make the best choice in any situation. Some of life's decisions are really about
determining what you value most.
- When many options seem reasonable, it can be comforting and helpful to rely on your
core values, using them as a strong guiding force to point you in the right direction.
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