“Defining Your Core Values” Exercise
1. Which values speak to you?
From the list below, choose and write down every core value that resonates with you. Don’t overthink it. As
you read the list, just write down the words that feel like a core value to you personally. If you think of a value
that’s important to you and not on the list, write it down too.
Abundance Dedication Kindness Professionalism
Acceptance Dependability Knowledge Punctuality
Accountability Diversity Leadership Relationships
Achievement Empathy Learning Reliability
Adventure Encouragement Love Resilience
Advocacy Enthusiasm Loyalty Resourcefulness
Ambition Ethics Making a Difference Responsibility
Appreciation Excellence Mindfulness Responsiveness
Attractiveness Expressiveness Motivation Security
Autonomy Fairness Optimism Self-Control
Balance Family Open-Mindedness Selflessness
Being the Best Friendships Originality Simplicity
Benevolence Flexibility Passion Stability
Boldness Freedom Performance Success
Brilliance Fun Personal Development Teamwork
Calmness Generosity Proactive Thankfulness
Caring Grace Professionalism Thoughtfulness
Challenge Growth Quality Traditionalism
Charity Flexibility Recognition Trustworthiness
Cheerfulness Happiness Risk Taking Understanding
Cleverness Health Safety Uniqueness
Community Honesty Security Usefulness
Commitment Humility Service Versatility
Compassion Humor Spirituality Vision
Cooperation Inclusiveness Stability Warmth
Collaboration Independence Peace Wealth
Consistency Individuality Perfection Well-Being
Contribution Innovation Playfulness Wisdom
Creativity Inspiration Popularity Zeal
Credibility Intelligence Power
Curiosity Intuition Preparedness
Daring Joy Proactivity
Decisiveness
2. Group all similar values together from the list of values you just created.
Group them in a way that makes sense to you, personally. Create a maximum of five groupings. If you have
more than five groupings, drop the least important grouping(s). See the example below.
Abundance Acceptance Appreciation Balance Cheerfulness
Growth Compassion Encouragement Health Fun
Wealth Inclusiveness Thankfulness Personal Development Happiness
Security Intuition Thoughtfulness Spirituality Humor
Freedom Kindness Mindfulness Well-being Inspiration
Independence Love Joy
Flexibility Making a Difference Optimism
Peace Open-Mindedness Playfulness
Trustworthiness
Relationships
3. Choose one word from each group to be the label for the entire group.
Again, don’t overthink your labels. There are no right or wrong answers. See the example below – the label
chosen for the group is in bold.
Abundance Acceptance Appreciation Balance Cheerfulness
Growth Compassion Encouragement Health Fun
Wealth Inclusiveness Thankfulness Personal Happiness
Development
Security Intuition Thoughtfulness Spirituality Humor
Freedom Kindness Mindfulness Well-being Inspiration
Independence Love Joy
Flexibility Making a Difference Optimism
Peace Open-Mindedness Playfulness
Trustworthiness
Relationships
4. Add a verb to each value
So you can see what it looks like in action as a core value. For example:
Live in freedom.
Seek opportunities for making a difference.
Act with mindfulness.
Promote well-being.
Multiply happiness.
5. Finally, write your core values in order of priority
Put them someplace that you will see them regularly, so that when you are faced with a decision they are there
to guide you.
1. Live in freedom.
2. Act with mindfulness.
3. Promote well-being.
4. Multiply happiness.
5. Seek opportunities for making a difference.
