Values-Based

Self-Development
Plan Workbook
Reflection questions and
exercises to give you clarity
and focus for the next year.
Values Based
Self-Development
Plan

The purpose of this workbook is

to help you thoughtfully create a
self-development plan for the
next year that is grounded in your
values.

It includes tangible goals to help

you clearly see and plan for what
you want to accomplish, and self-
improvement goals to help you
grow as a person and become
more effective at what matters
most to you.

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Values Based Self-Development Plan

Section One:
VALUES
Values Based
Self-Development
Plan
Your “values” are the few things in life that are most
important to you, above all else. Sometimes people
think of values as important character traits, such as
integrity or respect. Sometimes people think of values
as the most important things they want to surround
themselves with such as family, security, or adventure.

When you consciously build your life around your

values, you lay the groundwork for a happier and more
fulfilling life.

Aligning your goals with your values will make them

more meaningful and easier to achieve. So, whenever
you begin to think about goals for a new year, it’s
helpful to start with some initial reflection on your
values.

In this section we will walk you through one exercise

that will allow you recognize some of your most
important values. This will give you enough clarity to
move onto the following sections and set your self-
development goals for next year with those values in
mind.

If you would like to spend more time working on

identifying your core values, life purpose, needs, and
most important areas for personal growth, don’t
hesitate to reach out. We provide coaching,
assessments, and advanced growth classes to support
your entire self-discovery journey.

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How Do You
Experience
Happiness?
Typically, we discover our values in our happiest moments,
because in them we are usually engaged with what matters
most, or what feels most fulfilling and joyful.

People experience “happiness” differently, so it can often be

helpful to clarify what “happiness” is to you. For example, a
peaceful feeling of contentment might be the ultimate
experience of joy to some people, while to others that might
seem boring compared to a peak experience expressed in
joyful action or challenge.
Some people might feel an ultimate connection to deep
intimacy in their relationships while others get more from the
shared joy and laughter of a small group of friends playing a
game. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to experience
happiness – only YOUR way.
Your way of experiencing happiness is based on a combination
of your values and your personality.

WRITE A FEW SENTENCES THAT DESCRIBE WHAT

HAPPINESS FEELS LIKE TO YOU:

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Values Based Self-Development Plan: Values

VALUES EXERCISE

Make a list of approximately 5-6 “moments” that come to mind in the last year or so that you remember feeling your happiest.
For each example that you wrote above, ask yourself what it was about that moment that made it happy for you? Then ask
yourself why that is important three times. Try to hone it down to one or two words each.
Here are a few examples:

Happy Moment: Windsurfing on the ocean last summer.

What was it that made it a happy moment: Meeting the physical challenge of the wind and waves and feeling “at one” with
these forces – invigorating and thrilling!
Why is that important? I love challenging myself physically and I love being outside testing myself against the forces of nature.
And why is that important? I love feeling strong and fierce – proving myself that way.
And why is that important? It’s the ultimate expression of life. One word: vitality?

Happy Moment: Admiring the completed redesign / redecoration of my office.

What was it that made it a happy moment: It was beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, and most of all – it was a perfect reflection of
who I am.
Why is that important? I love surrounding myself with art and style that reflects a kind of simple elegance.
And why is that important? It gives me a clean space to work, and it inspires me to produce great work.
And why is that important? It shows that I accept nothing less than the best. One word: excellence?

Happy Moment: Laying next to my 18-month old daughter, rubbing her back as she falls asleep.
What was it that made it a happy moment: That beautiful, quiet, pure childhood innocence – feeling my complete commitment
to protecting her.
Why is that important? It’s the love for sure, but that innocence also gives me hope in humanity.
And why is that important? I want to believe that there are good people in this world that we can depend on to take care of
each other.
And why is that important? I want to see and stand for the goodness and innocence in this world. One word: purity?

Use the following “Happy Moments” worksheet to organize your answers.

Happy Moments Worksheet
Happy Moments Worksheet
 Grounding in Your Values
SUMMARIZE FOR YOURSELF:

What are the most important values you want to

honor for yourself over the next year, and how do
you want to honor them?

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Values Based Self-Development Plan

Section Two:
VISION
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Vision

Your “vision” is the clear picture you have in your head of whatever it is that you are moving towards. It could be as simple as
picturing what you want to order as you get ready to go to your favorite restaurant. Or it can be a more complicated, formal
description of what things will look like once you have completed a major life transition. For the purposes of developing your plan for
the next year, we will do an exercise that allows you to create a one-year vision.

VISION EXERCISE
Imagine that you have the power to make three changes in your life or work by the end of next year, no matter how impossible they
seem. List your three changes here:

1.

2.

3.

Imagine that it is a year from now and all three of these changes have happened. Visualize a typical day or week and describe it here:
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Vision
Still one year from now, as you are living your life in this different way after achieving all three of the impossible things, write five
specific things that have changed for you. How are you living or experiencing your life differently?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Why are the five things you listed above important to you?

Do these five things line up with the values you listed in the previous section, and if so, how?
 Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

Now we are going to move back to your current real life and look at what you feel is realistic. Given what you know you are capable of,
and taking into consideration the situation you are currently living in, make a short list of changes you believe you COULD make in
your life within the next year:
Values Based Self-Development Plan

Section Three:
GOALS
 Goals
There are two kinds of goals:

1. Accomplishment Goals that are easily measured and

clearly observed as achieved or not achieved. These are
tangible and can be written using the SMART goal format
(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-
Based).

An example might be to achieve a certain revenue level,

run a marathon, or take a 10-day vacation.
Accomplishment goals help you clearly see what steps to
take in order to get results.

2. Growth Goals that are developmental in nature, usually

described as “getting better at” or “practicing” something
in order to reach a higher level of mastery.

An example might be to improve my comfort level with

difficult conversations, build confidence speaking in front
of a large group, or get better at managing my frustration
when I’m triggered. Growth goals change you as a person,
so that you become more effective at what matters.

When you make a self-development plan, we are generally

more interested in your Growth Goals than in your
Accomplishment Goals. Your growth goals support your long-
term growth and change and can be defined to help you
achieve your accomplishment goals more effectively.

In this section we address and help you define both types of

goals.

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Values Based Self-Development Plan: Goals
ACCOMPLISHMENT GOALS

Write a short list of no more than five major things you’d like to accomplish within the next year. For each goal on your list, write what
is most important to you about this goal, and how you see it connecting to the values you identified in section 1.

If you are having difficulty thinking of just five, it may help to make a longer list and then categorize them into larger goals, with the
items on your list being sub-tasks related to the larger goals.

If you’d like and it makes sense, write each goal in SMART goal format, by using the following SMART Goals worksheet.
Smart Goals Worksheet – Use for Accomplishment Goals
Smart Goals Worksheet – Use for Accomplishment Goals
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Goals
GROWTH GOALS
Write a list of three major things you would like to improve or get better at this year, that would make a significant difference in your
life. Why are these important to you?

1.

2.

3.

Assuming you are able to get significantly better at all three of these things, what would be different about your life?

Feel free to use the following “Growth Goal” worksheet to get more clarity on how you want to approach each goal.
Growth Goals Worksheet: For Self-Improvement Goals
Values Based Self-Development Plan

Section Four:
PRIORITIES
& STRATEGIES
Priorities and
Strategies

There’s more to setting goals than setting

goals. Thinking through how to best set
yourself up for success increases your ability to
take the ideas you’ve written and execute them
effectively.

Day-to-day life is filled with distractions,

unexpected problems, demands from others,
and emotional ups and downs, so any changes
you want to make will feel difficult until you’ve
gained some momentum and started
developing new habits.

In this section we will ask you some questions

to help you prioritize, prepare for challenges,
and lay groundwork that will give you the best
chance for success.

Photo by Mario Dobelmann on Unsplash

Values Based Self-Development Plan: Priorities & Strategies
As you review your responses to all the prior exercises in this workbook, what are the top three things you learned about yourself and
what is most important to you? What does this tell you about what is most important for you to focus on moving forward?

If you only had the time and energy to focus on ONE of the goals you identified in the exercises above, which one is most important
and why?

When you think about times you have set goals in the past and NOT achieved them, what has gotten in the way?

When you think about times you have set goals in the past and SUCCESSFULLY achieved them, what do you believe were the keys to
your success?
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Priorities & Strategies

When and how have others helped / supported you in achieving your goals? Do you have this kind of support now, and if not where
could you get it?

If you had a month to “prepare the way” and set yourself up for success before you started working on your goals, and you had
enough time and money to invest in resources, support, or whatever else you needed, what would you put into place?

Any other thoughts on ways to increase the likelihood or ease of your success?
Values Based Self-Development Plan

Section Five:
YOUR PLAN
Your Plan
Now we are ready to outline your plan. Keep in
mind that plans are most useful when they are
simple and flexible, because things in your
work and life will change as time goes on, and
you will be most effective if you can adapt.

In your plan we summarize your values and

goals and then address two important issues to
help set you up for success: anticipating and
preparing for obstacles and gathering
resources and support before you need it.

This should give you the clarity you need to

get started, and as always, we are here to
support you every step of the way.
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Your Plan

What are the top values you want to keep in mind this year and how do you want to honor those values?

What are your top two or three GROWTH (self-improvement) goals for the year and how will improving these skills allow you to
achieve your other goals more effectively?

What are your other goals (things you want to accomplish / SMART goals) for the year?
Values Based Self-Development Plan: Your Plan

What are the biggest obstacles you will face, when it comes to making these changes?

How do you plan to handle these obstacles when they arise?

What resources will you use to support your success?

Congratulations
on Completing
the Workbook!

If you have any questions about any of

the exercises in this workbook, or
would like to discuss your insights,
please don’t hesitate to reach out and
schedule some time to talk.

Nahid Casazza
(714) 931-2133
nahid@[Link]

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