7 Steps to Discover Your Personal Core ValuesDiscover Your Personal Core Values -- Most of us don’t know our values. We don’t understand what’s most important to us. Instead, we focus on what our society, culture, and media values. Can you articulate your top 5 to 10 values that are most important to you? Without undergoing a discovery process, it’s challenging to identify your personal core values. It’s easy to speculate and idealize what you should value. But knowing and accepting what you value takes effort. While the following process is best done with a qualified coach, you can do it on your own if you apply self-honesty, patience, and determination. Ready? Take out your journal, a notepad, or a note-taking app. And let’s get started. Here are 7 steps to creating distinct and meaningful core values that will serve you in every area of your life and work ...As a business coach, I appreciate the power of values. I’ve noticed that individuals experience greater fulfillment when they live by their values. And when we don’t honor our values, our mental, emotional, and physical state suffers. I’ve seen this to be true in my life too.Scott JeffreySJ_2b2601ae-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00Greater fulfillment in life._2b2603a2-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00To help us understand what’s most important to us._2b2604b0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00Personal ValuesWhy Personal Core Values Are Important -- Values are a part of us. They highlight what we stand for. They can represent our unique, individual essence. Values guide our behavior, providing us with a personal code of conduct. When we honor our personal core values consistently, we experience fulfillment. When we don’t, we are incongruent and are more likely to escape into bad habits and regress into childish behavior to uplift ourselves... As a reference, here’s a list of 230 personal values:AcceptanceAccomplishmentAccountabilityAccuracyAchievementAdaptabilityAlertnessAltruismAmbitionAmusementAssertivenessAttentiveAwarenessBalanceBeautyBoldnessBraveryBrillianceCalmCandorCapableCarefulCertaintyChallengeCharityCleanlinessClearCleverComfortCommitmentCommon senseCommunicationCommunityCompassionCompetenceConcentrationConfidenceConnectionConsciousnessConsistencyContentmentContributionControlConvictionCooperationCourageCourtesyCreationCreativityCredibilityCuriosityDecisiveDecisivenessDedicationDependabilityDeterminationDevelopmentDevotionDignityDisciplineDiscoveryDriveEffectivenessEfficiencyEmpathyEmpowerEnduranceEnergyEnjoymentEnthusiasmEqualityEthicalExcellenceExperienceExplorationExpressiveFairnessFamilyFamousFearlessFeelingsFerociousFidelityFocusForesightFortitudeFreedomFriendshipFunGenerosityGeniusGivingGoodnessGraceGratitudeGreatnessGrowthHappinessHard workHarmonyHealthHonestyHonorHopeHumilityHumorImaginationImprovementIndependenceIndividualityInnovationInquisitiveInsightfulInspiringIntegrityIntelligenceIntensityIntuitiveIrreverentJoyJusticeKindnessKnowledgeLawfulLeadershipLearningLibertyLogicLoveLoyaltyMasteryMaturityMeaningModerationMotivationOpennessOptimismOrderOrganizationOriginalityPassionPatiencePeacePerformancePersistencePlayfulnessPoisePotentialPowerPresentProductivityProfessionalismProsperityPurposeQualityRealisticReasonRecognitionRecreationReflectiveRespectResponsibilityRestraintResults-orientedReverenceRigorRiskSatisfactionSecuritySelf-relianceSelflessSensitivitySerenityServiceSharingSignificanceSilenceSimplicitySinceritySkillSkillfulnessSmartSolitudeSpiritSpiritualitySpontaneousStabilityStatusStewardshipStrengthStructureSuccessSupportSurpriseSustainabilityTalentTeamworkTemperanceThankfulThoroughThoughtfulTimelinessToleranceToughnessTraditionalTranquilityTransparencyTrustTrustworthyTruthUnderstandingUniquenessUnityValorVictoryVigorVisionVitalityWealthWelcomingWinningWisdomWonderBeginningStart with a Beginner’s Mind_2b2606e0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 1It’s too easy to presume that we know the answer at the start and to, therefore, never embark on a creative, personal discovery process. Adopt the mind of a beginner—someone with no preconceived notions of what is—to give you access to inner truths to which your conscious mind is yet unaware. Take a deep breath and empty your mind. Remember that your conscious mind doesn’t have all the answers. Create a space for new insights and revelations to emerge. Getting in right mental and emotional state is an essential first step. I also created a program called The Mastery Method: Activate Your Higher Potential to help individuals enter a state of heightened mental alertness, calm, and centeredness before doing processes like this._2b2607d0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00ListingCreate Your List of Personal Values_2b2608c0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 2Arriving at a concise and short list of personal values can be a daunting task. You can find lists online with almost 400 values to choose from. However, I don’t advise using any predetermined lists. Why? Values aren’t selected; we discover and reveal them. If you start with a list, your conscious mind will test which values appear “better” than others. That said, if you’re not familiar with working with values, you can scan a list of values to get a sense of your range of options. To help you uncover your own personal core values, here are three processes you can try:Peak ExperiencesConsider what values you were honoring during a particularly meaningful moment._2b2609b0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea002.1Consider a meaningful moment—a peak experience that stands out. What was happening to you? What was going on? What values were you honoring at this time?Suppressed ValuesConsider what values were being suppressed at a time when you got angry, frustrated, or upset._2b260a96-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea002.2Now, go in the opposite direction; consider a time when you got angry, frustrated, or upset. What was going on? What were you feeling? Now flip those feelings around. What value is being suppressed?Code of ConductConsider what personal values you must honor to experience fulfillment in your life._2b260b72-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea002.3What’s most important in your life? Beyond your basic human needs, what must you have in your life to experience fulfillment? Creative self-expression? A strong level of health and vitality? A sense of excitement and adventure? Surrounded by beauty? Always learning? What are the personal values you must honor or a part of you withers?GroupingChunk Your Personal Values into Related Groups_2b260c62-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 3Combining all the answers from step 2, you now have a master list of personal values. Maybe there are between 20 and 40 values on your list. That’s too many to be actionable. Your next step is to group these values under related themes. Values like accountability, responsibility, and timeliness are all related. Values like learning, growth, and development relate to each other. Connection, belonging, and intimacy are related too. Group them together._2b260d52-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00ThemesHighlight the Central Theme of Each Value Group_2b260e42-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 4If you have a group of values that include honesty, transparency, integrity, candor, directness, and truth, select a word that best represents the group. For example, integrity might work as a central theme for the values I listed. You can keep the other words in the group in parentheses to give your primary value more context. You’ll use them again in step 6._2b260f3c-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00Core ValuesDetermine Your Top Personal Core Values_2b261022-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 5:Now comes the hardest part. After completing step 4, you still may have a sizable list of values. Here are a few questions to help you whittle your list down: What values are essential to your life? What values represent your primary way of being? What values are essential to supporting your inner self? As a unique individual, you possess certain strengths and weaknesses. Your values matter most to you. How many core values should you end up with? Too few and you won’t capture all the unique dimensions of your being. Too many and you’ll forget them or won’t take advantage of them. While the number of core values differs for each person, the magic range seems to be between 5 and 10. Rank them in the order of importance. This is often the most challenging part. You may need to do this step in multiple sittings. After doing one round of ranking put it aside and “sleep on it.” Revisit your ranking the next day and see how it sits with you. Then, go through the process again.IdentificationIdentify five to ten of values._2b261126-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea005.1RankingRank those values in order of importance to you._2b26123e-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea005.2ReviewReview your ranking on multiple days._2b261342-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea005.3ContextGive Your Personal Values Richer Context_2b261446-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 6Now, creativity comes into play.ArticulationArticulate the meaning behind each value in memorable phrases or sentences._2b261568-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea006.1Highlighting values into memorable phrases or sentences helps you articulate the meaning behind each value. It gives you the opportunity to make the value more emotional and memorable. Here are a few tips and guidelines for crafting your values statements:InspirationUse inspiring words and vocabulary._2b261680-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea006.1.1Our brains are quick to delete or ignore the mundane and commonplace. Mine for words that evoke and trigger emotional responses. They will be more meaningful and memorable.StrengthsPlay to your strengths in crafting your values._2b261798-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea006.1.2MeaningMake your value statements rich and meaningful._2b2618b0-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea006.1.3Make your value statements rich and meaningful to you so they inspire you to uphold them. You could use other words from the groupings you made in step 3 in your description. For example, let’s say you’ve identified a core value of health to represent other values, like energy and vitality. Your values statement might be: “Health: to live with full vitality and energy every day.”TestingTest the Ecology of Each Value_2b2620bc-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea00STEP 7Once you’ve completed your list of core values, walk away from them and revisit them the next day after a good night’s sleep. Review your list:FeelingsConsider how the values make you feel._2b2621f2-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.1How do they make you feel?ConsistencyConsider whether the values are consistent with who you feel you are._2b2625b2-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.2Do you feel they are consistent with who you are?PersonalityConsider whether the values are personal to you._2b2626d4-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.3Are they personal to you?IdentityConsider whether any of the values may be inconsistent with your identity._2b2627d8-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.4Do you see any values that feel inconsistent with your identity (as if they belong to someone else, like an authority figure or society) and not you?PriorityReview whether your values are in the proper order of importance._2b262940-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.5Check your priority ranking. Do you feel like your values are in the proper order of importance?ChangesMake changes as necessary._2b262a6c-747b-11ea-8b05-86d72983ea007.6Nothing is final. Make any tweaks and changes as necessary.2020-04-01https://scottjeffrey.com/personal-core-values/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net