Defining Your

Values Exercise
from RYLC
Journal
Jeanette Brown
DEFining your values exercise

Welcome!

The aim of this exercise is to help you clarify your top five core values.

Your values describe how you want to be, what you want to stand for
and how you want to act in all facets of your life. They are how you
want to treat yourself and others.

Values describe the principles that can guide and motivate you as you
go through life. They are in essence how you are true to yourself.
 DEFining your values exercise

To begin, take some time to answer the questions

01
below to help you reflect on your values.

a) What inspires you to take action?

b) In what situations do you feel most at home with yourself and most
at peace?

Below is a list of the most common values. Read

02
through the list and mark values that are important
to you. The idea is to pick about twelve. Include any
of your values that are not listed.

The next step is to select top five to six values that

03
are the most important to you from your list of
twelve. These, we will call your core values.
 DEFining your values exercise

If you mark a value as important but you feel you are not behaving
consistently with that value, don’t berate yourself. Just be curious about it.

This exercise sometimes can bring up discrepancies between our values

and our actions.

This is just a reminder to us that we are all human. The more self-defeating
our behaviour is, the more likely we are not acting in congruence with our
values.

It is important to write your core values down and remind yourself of them
regularly.

On a final note, as we go through life, we grow and change. Our life

circumstances and priorities can change. Over time your values can
change too, so it is a good idea to revisit your values every now and again.

Acceptance
Determination
Humour
Pleasure

Achievement
Empathy
Humility
Power

Adventure
Encouragement
Industry
Respect

Ambition
Equality
Innovation
Responsibility

Authenticity
Equanimity
Integrity
Romance

Autonomy
Excitement
Intimacy
Safety

Beauty
Fairness
Justice
Self-awareness

Challenge
Flexibility
Kindness
Self-care

Collaboration
Freedom
Love
Self-control

Contribution
Friendliness
Love of learning
Sensuality

Conformity
Forgiveness
Loyalty
Solitude

Connection
Gratitude
Mindfulness
Spirituality

Courage
Growth
Mastery
Stability

Creativity
Health
Order
Trust

Curiosity Honesty Open-mindedness Vitality

Other: