Values Clarification
Step 1: List of Values
Mark the items in the list that feel important or really speak to you:
□ achievement □ discipline □ initiative □ productivity
□ adventure □ diversity □ innovation □ profitability
□ affection □ effectiveness □ integrity □ professionalism
□ ambition □ efficiency □ intelligence □ provide a legacy
□ authenticity □ empathy □ intimacy □ prosperity
□ autonomy □ encouragement □ joy □ quality
□ balance □ enthusiasm □ justice □ recognition
□ beauty □ equality □ kindness □ reliability
□ belonging □ excitement □ knowledge □ resilience
□ bravery □ faith □ laissez faire □ respect
□ calm □ fairness □ leadership □ responsibility
□ care □ family □ learning □ risk-taking
□ challenge □ financial growth □ leisure □ safety
□ charity □ financial security □ logic □ security
□ clarity □ flexibility □ love □ self-care
□ cleverness □ forgiveness □ loyalty □ self-control
□ collaboration □ freedom □ mindfulness □ self-discipline
□ comfortable □ friendship □ moderation □ self-expression
□ commitment □ fun □ mutual □ sense of
□ communication □ generosity □ open- purpose
□ compassion □ gratitude mindedness □ service
□ competition □ growth □ openness □ simplicity
□ competence □ happiness □ optimism □ sincerity
□ confidence □ harmony □ order □ spirituality
□ connection □ health □ originality □ stability
□ consideration □ helpfulness □ passion □ strength
□ consistency □ honesty □ patience □ success
□ contentment □ honor □ peace □ support
□ contribution □ hope □ perseverance □ teamwork
□ cooperation □ humility □ personal growth □ tradition
□ courage □ humor □ perspective □ trust
□ creativity □ imagination □ pleasure □ truth
□ curiosity □ impact □ power □ understanding
□ decisiveness □ inclusivity □ practical □ variety
□ determination □ independence □ presence □ wisdom
□ dignity □ influence □ prestige □ wonder
What Are Values?
At a deep level, what truly matters to you? What do you want your life to stand for?
Values are the core principles that shape the way you want to live, connect, and interact
with the world. They act as a compass, guiding your decisions and behaviors even in
times of uncertainty.
Unlike goals, which can be achieved and checked off a list, values represent an ongoing
way of being. A goal might be to complete a degree, buy a home, or run a marathon.
Once accomplished, that goal is complete. Values, however, reflect a direction of
principal rather than a specific destination.
Reflecting on Your Path So Far:
It is easy to look at your life through the lens of what you have not yet achieved - the
promotion that didn’t come, the relationships that did not last, the dream that remains
unfulfilled. But living in alignment with your values means recognizing that every step
you have taken has been an opportunity to practice what matters most to you.
Reflecting on your values can bring a sense of pride and fulfillment in the work you
have already done. Even if some goals remain unfinished, a life that has been lived
embracing your values is an achievement itself. Staying true to what matters most is an
ongoing process that keeps you moving forward and brings purpose to your journey,
even in times of uncertainty.
Questions to Explore:
When have you felt most alive, authentic, and true to yourself?
Who do you admire, and what values do they demonstrate?
Looking back, what values have you embodied, even when things didn’t go as planned?
Putting Your Values into Practice:
Check in with yourself to see how your values have shown up in your actions. Allow your
values to guide your small decisions and your big ones. Revisit them regularly; they may
evolve as you do. Use them as a foundation for setting goals, ensuring that your
objectives align with the kind of person you want to be. When you face a choice or
transition, ask yourself what feels true to what matters most to you.
Narrow down and mark your top 3 to 5 values from each category.
Well-Being
Values that nourish your physical and mental health:
□ balance □ happiness □ optimism □ safety
□ calm □ health □ patience □ security
□ contentment □ hope □ peace □ self-care
□ forgiveness □ humor □ personal □ self-control
□ fulfillment □ joy growth □ self-discipline
□ fun □ mindfulness □ presence □ ________________
□ gratitude □ moderation □ resilience □ ________________
Lifestyle & Environment
Values that shape your external world and how you engage with your broader
surroundings.
□ achievement □ flexibility □ power □ recognition
□ adventure □ influence □ practical □ responsibility
□ beauty □ impact □ prestige □ risk-taking
□ competence □ laissez faire □ productivity □ sensible
□ excitement □ learning □ profitability □ simplicity
□ effectiveness □ leadership □ professionalism □ stability
□ efficiency □ leisure □ provide a legacy □ success
□ financial growth □ order □ prosperity □ variety
□ financial security □ pleasure □ quality □ ________________
Self & Identity
Values that inspire and guide your life.
□ ambition □ decisiveness □ innovation □ perspective
□ authenticity □ determination □ integrity □ responsiveness
□ autonomy □ dignity □ intelligence □ self-expression
□ bravery □ enthusiasm □ justice □ sense of
□ challenge □ faith □ logic purpose
□ clarity □ freedom □ knowledge □ spirituality
□ cleverness □ honor □ open- □ strength
□ conservative □ humility mindedness □ tradition
□ confidence □ imagination □ originality □ truth
□ courage □ in control □ passion □ wisdom
□ creativity □ independence □ perseverance □ wonder
□ curiosity □ initiative □ persistence □ ________________
Relationships & Community
Values that strengthen your bonds with others—family, friends, romantic partners,
and community.
□ affection □ connection □ fairness □ openness
□ belonging □ consideration □ generosity □ reliability
□ care □ consistency □ harmony □ respect
□ charity □ contribution □ helpfulness □ service
□ collaboration □ cooperation □ honesty □ sincerity
□ comfortable □ dependability □ inclusivity □ support
□ commitment □ diversity □ intimacy □ teamwork
□ communication □ empathy □ kindness □ trust
□ compassion □ encouragement □ loyalty □ understanding
□ competition □ equality □ mutuality □ _______________
Place your 3 to 5 Values in priority order and list what the value means to you. Next,
identify ways to put them into practice.
Example
Value Statement of Meaning
1. Integrity Do the right thing
2. Financial growth Increase personal net worth
3. Risk Taking Face Uncertainty to pursue opportunity
4. Adventure Embrace new experiences
5. Simplicity Prioritize what matters most
Behaviors:
Tell the truth, even if it’s hard. Consider the ethical outcomes of my actions.
Pay down debt and invest wisely. Budget and limit spending outside my values. Say
“yes” to things that have potential. Vacation more often. Declutter my space.
Well Being
Value Statement of Meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Behaviors:
Lifestyle & Environment
Value Statement of Meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Behaviors:
Self & Identity
Value Statement of Meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Behaviors:
Relationships & Community
Value Statement of Meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Behaviors:
What value did you list as number 1 in each category?
1. 3.
2. 4.