By Patrick Cahillane – Life, Executive & Business Coach with One Source International Coaching and Training and Founder of The One Source Personal Development Network
Personal development is a journey that we embark on in order to become the best version of ourselves. It is a journey that requires us to constantly evaluate ourselves and make changes to improve our lives. One important aspect of personal development is understanding our values and how they influence our choices and actions. In this blog post, we will explore the role that values play in personal development and how to identify our own values.
What are values?
Values are principles or beliefs that guide our decisions and actions. They are the fundamental beliefs that underpin our sense of right and wrong, and they influence the way we interact with the world around us. Values can be individual or shared, and they are shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and culture.
The role of values in personal development
Our values play a crucial role in personal development. They shape our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, and guide us in making choices that align with our personal goals and aspirations. When we are aware of our values, we are better equipped to make decisions that are in line with our personal beliefs, and this can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Identifying your values
Identifying your values is an important step in personal development. Here are some steps to help you identify your values:
- Reflect on your experiences: Think about the experiences in your life that have had a significant impact on you. What values were reflected in those experiences? For example, if you had a positive experience volunteering, the value of giving back to the community may be important to you.
- Consider what you admire in others: Think about the people you admire and respect. What qualities do they possess that you find inspiring? For example, if you admire someone for their honesty, the value of honesty may be important to you.
- Identify your non-negotiables: Consider the things that you are not willing to compromise on. What are the values that are most important to you? For example, if you believe in treating others with kindness, the value of kindness may be non-negotiable for you.
- Use a values assessment: There are many values assessments available online that can help you identify your values. These assessments typically ask you to rank a list of values in order of importance.
Once you have identified your values, it is important to reflect on how they are reflected in your life. Are you living in alignment with your values? If not, what changes can you make to live a more values-driven life?
Understanding our values is an important part of personal development. Our values guide us in making choices that align with our personal goals and aspirations, and they can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness. By taking the time to identify our values, we can make intentional choices that are in line with our personal beliefs, and this can help us become the best version of ourselves.
The following is a value assessment I use with my coaching clients to identify their core values. Why not give it a try and identify your core values:
Instructions: Rank each value below in order of importance to you. Choose the value that is most important to you and rank it with a “1”, and so on until all values are ranked. You can use numbers from 1 to 10, with 1 being the most important and 10 being the least important.
- Authenticity
- Achievement
- Adventure
- Balance
- Community
- Creativity
- Fairness
- Family
- Freedom
- Friendship
- Growth
- Health
- Honesty
- Independence
- Inner Harmony
- Justice
- Knowledge
- Leadership
- Learning
- Love
- Loyalty
- Meaningful Work
- Peace
- Personal Development
- Playfulness
- Recognition
- Relationships
- Security
- Self-Respect
- Service
- Spirituality
- Stability
- Success
- Trustworthiness
- Wealth
- Wisdom
Once you have completed the assessment, take time to reflect on your top five values. Are you living in alignment with these values? What changes can you make to better align your choices and actions with your values? Use this insight to set meaningful goals and make positive changes in your life.