Values are the directions you want to move in life—the qualities you want to embody and express. They're not goals (which can be achieved and checked off) but ongoing ways of being that give your life meaning.
Why Values Matter
When you're clear about your values, you have a compass for decisions. Difficulties become more bearable when they're in service of something meaningful. Life feels more purposeful, even in painful times.
Without values clarity, you might find yourself:
- Drifting without direction
- Making decisions based on fear or other people's expectations
- Achieving goals but still feeling empty
- Stuck in patterns that don't serve you
Common Value Domains
Values Clarification Questions
- What would you want written about you at your 80th birthday?
- Who do you admire and what qualities do they embody?
- When do you feel most alive and engaged?
- If fear wasn't a factor, what would you do differently?
- What matters so much you'd be willing to suffer for it?
Values vs Goals
A goal is something you achieve: get a degree, run a marathon, buy a house.
A value is a direction you travel: learning, health, security.
You never "complete" a value—you keep moving toward it. This means values can guide you throughout your entire life.