Core Values
What are core values?
Core values are the compass to your inner direction, they point to what is most important to you such as your family, your relationships, or ideals such as compassion, honesty, justice or freedom. Core values define who you are, the compass that can direct your behaviour, build your self-esteem, and motivate you. Core values are not always at the forefront of your mind, they exist in the background, they are your conscience, they are that voice that guides you, the voice that defines right and wrong, in other words, they inform your sense of morality.
Core values provide your life with meaning and depth. When you have identified them and live by them; the world makes more sense. Values help you to find your life purpose, your passion, and your happiness with integrity and authenticity. They assist you to be the best version of yourself. If you are not feeling good about yourself, it is likely that you are not living by your core values. Have you ever asked questions like ‘who am I?’ ‘How do others see me or perceive me?’ ‘What sort of impact do I have on others?’ ‘The answer to those questions lies in knowing your values, they are at the core of your identity. Your core values will determine a lot of your behaviour; they determine what you spend the majority of your time on, where you spend your money, with whom you spend most of your time and your political preferences.
When you violate your values, it decimates your self-esteem, reduces your self- respect and you can lose sight of your self-concept and identity. This happens because you are going against the grain of your inner compass, your conscience and your sense of morality.
Below is an exercise to identify your core values and then further discussion on how you can use them to achieve your goals, live authentically and most importantly, to know yourself better.
The Core Values exercise.
Below is a list of values, go through them and choose twenty of them according to how important they are to you. Number them from 1-20 with 1 being most important value. The dictionary meaning of the words shouldn’t be overly significant, it is what that particular word means to you.
Accountability
Diligence
Helping others
Power
Accuracy
Discipline
Holiness
Practicality
Adventure
Discretion
Honesty
Preparedness
Altruism
Diversity
Honour
Prestige
Ambition
Diplomacy
Humility
Professionalism
Assertiveness
Economy
Independence
Prudence
Appearance
Education
Ingenuity
Prosperity
Authority
Effectiveness
Inner Harmony
Purpose
Balance
Efficiency
Intimacy
Quality
Beauty
Elegance
Inquisitiveness
Rationality
Being the best
Empathy
Insightfulness
Reliability
Belonging
Enjoyment
Intelligence
Resourcefulness
Calmness
Enthusiasm
Integrity
Restraint
Carefulness
Environmentalism
Identity
Respect
Challenge
Equality
Intuition
Results Oriented
Cheerfulness
Excellence
Inventiveness
Righteousness
Clear-Mindedness
Excitement
Joy
Security
Commitment
Expertise
Justice
Self-actualisation
Community
Exploration
Knowledge
Self-control
Communication
Expressiveness
Leadership
Selflessness
Compassion
Fairness
Love
Self-reliance
Competition
Faith
Loyalty
Self-acceptance
Competence
Family
Motivation
Self-respect
Consistency
Fidelity
Mastery
Sensitivity
Consensus
Fitness
Maturity
Serenity
Contentment
Focus
Merit
Service
Contribution
Forgiveness
Neatness
Sexuality
Control
Freedom
Obedience
Sensuality
Co-operation
Friendship
Openness
Shrewdness
Correctness
Fun
Order
Simplicity
Courtesy
Generosity
Originality
Spontaneity
Courage
Giving
Patriotism
Spirituality
Creativity
Goodness
Peace
Stability
Cleanliness
God
Personal Growth
Status
Curiosity
Grace
Perseverance
Strength
Decisiveness
Growth
Perfection
Success
Democracy
Happiness
Pleasure
Support
Dependability
Hard work
Play
Teamwork
Determination
Harmony
Piety
Tradition
Devoutness
Health
Positivity
Tolerance
Gratitude
Wealth
Vitality
Warmth
Unity
Vision
Timeliness
Youthfulness
Uniqueness
Usefulness
Truth
Make a difference
Mindfulness
Understanding
Prosperity
Practicality
Recognition
Inspirational
Privacy
Safety
Kindness
Likability
Nature
Caring
Encouragement
Healing
Listen
Authenticity
Self-Expression
Conquer
Passivity
Synchronicity
Devotion
Passion
Discovery
Change
Charity
Gratitude
Reflection
Solitude
Kinship
Receive
Inclusiveness
What did you find out about yourself? Are you living by your core-values? Where might you be violating them?
The benefits of regularly affirming your core values.
By regularly looking at, thinking about or writing about your core values, you make way for some valuable changes in the way you interact with the world.
1) Reduced stress, which is good news for your immune system and general health.
2) Reduces existential terror (fear of death)
3) Reduces your defense mechanisms such as cognitive dissonance and stereotyping.
4) Increases your ability to listen to others point of view.
5) Increases your ability to make good healthcare decisions
6) It can help improve relationships due to reduced need to defend self.
7) It increases your ability to respond rather than react to others.
8) Increases resilience
9) Better decision -making capacity
10) It increases your self- esteem and self-efficacy.
So how does knowing this increase your self-esteem and make better decisions?
When you know yourself, by knowing your core values and you LIVE by them, you draw your self- esteem intrinsically, meaning that you self-esteem comes from within you. Living by your core-values gives you a sense of identity and security. When you live by your core-values you move towards what you value and away from what you don't, increased self-esteem is a natural by-product. The same applies to decision making; you make decisions based on your core-values you're naturally making better decisions!
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