Live Your Core Values: 10-Minute Exercise to Increase Your Success
How are you showing up at work? In your personal relationships? For yourself? How you show up in the world is determined by your core values.
It doesn’t take years of self-reflection to uncover your core values. This simple exercise can help you determine them so you can start aligning your personal goals with them. How long will it take? About 10 minutes, well worth the investment!
Grab a pen and piece of paper and let’s go!
1. Determine Your Core Values
From the list below, choose and write down every core value that resonates with you. Do not overthink your selection. As you read through the list, simply write down the words that feel like a core value to you personally. If you think of a value you possess that is not on the list, write it down.
| Abundance Acceptance Accountability Achievement Adventure Advocacy Ambition Appreciation Attractiveness Autonomy Balance Being the Best Benevolence Boldness Brilliance Calmness Caring Challenge Charity Cheerfulness Cleverness Collaboration Community Commitment Compassion Consistency Contribution Cooperation Creativity Credibility Curiosity Daring Decisiveness |
Dedication Dependability Diversity Empathy Encouragement Enthusiasm Ethics Excellence Expressiveness Fairness Family Flexibility Friendships Freedom Fun Generosity Grace Growth Happiness Health Honesty Humility Humor Inclusiveness Independence Individuality Innovation Inspiration Intelligence Intuition Joy |
Kindness Knowledge Leadership Learning Love Loyalty Making a Difference Mindfulness Motivation Optimism Open-Mindedness Originality Passion Performance Personal Development Peace Perfection Playfulness Popularity Power Preparedness Proactivity Proactive Professionalism Punctuality Quality Recognition Relationships Reliability Resilience |
Resourcefulness Responsibility Responsiveness Risk Taking Safety Security Self-Control Selflessness Service Simplicity Spirituality Stability SuccessTeamwork Thankfulness Thoughtfulness Traditionalism Trustworthiness Understanding Uniqueness Usefulness Versatility Vision Warmth Wealth Well-Being Wisdom Zeal |
2. Group All Similar Values Together from the List of Values You Just Created
Group them in a way that makes sense to you, personally. Create a maximum of five groupings. If you have more than five groupings, drop the least important grouping(s). See the example below.
| Abundance | Acceptance | Appreciation | Balance | Cheerfulness |
| Growth | Compassion | Encouragement | Health | Fun |
| Wealth | Inclusiveness | Thankfulness | Personal Development | Happiness |
| Security | Intuition | Thoughtfulness | Spirituality | Humor |
| Freedom | Kindness | Mindfulness | Well-being | Inspiration |
| Independence | Love | Joy | ||
| Flexibility | Making a Difference | Optimism | ||
| Peace | Open-Mindedness | Playfulness | ||
| Trustworthiness | ||||
| Relationships |
3. Choose One Word Within Each Group that Represents the Label for the Entire Group
Again, do not overthink your labels – there are no right or wrong answers. You are defining the answer that is right for you. See the example below – the label chosen for the grouping is bolded.
| Abundance | Acceptance | Appreciation | Balance | Cheerfulness |
| Growth | Compassion | Encouragement | Health | Fun |
| Wealth | Inclusiveness | Thankfulness | Personal Development | Happiness |
| Security | Intuition | Thoughtfulness | Spirituality | Humor |
| Freedom | Kindness | Mindfulness | Well-being | Inspiration |
| Independence | Love | Joy | ||
| Flexibility | Making a Difference | Optimism | ||
| Peace | Open-Mindedness | Playfulness | ||
| Trustworthiness | ||||
| Relationships |
4. Add a Verb to Each Value Label
Add a verb to each value so you can see what it looks like as an actionable core value. For example:
Live in freedom.
Seek opportunities for making a difference.
Act with mindfulness.
Promote well-being.
Multiply happiness.
This will guide you in the actions you need to take to feel like you are truly living on purpose.
5. Finally, Post Your Core Values Where You See Them when Faced with Decisions
Where should you post them? Write your core values in order of priority in your planner, so they are available as an easy reference when you are faced with decisions. Put them on a sticky on the edge of your computer screen. Or make a background with them on it for your cell phone. For example:
1. Live in freedom.
2. Act with mindfulness.
3. Promote well-being.
4. Multiply happiness.
5. Seek opportunities for making a difference.
Now Live Your Core Values!
If we can get to the place where we show up as our genuine selves,
and let each other see who we really are,
the awe-inspiring ripple effect
will change the world.
Terrie M. Williams
The most important thing you can do for your personal success today is to know your core values and use them as your guide.
Knowing core values is important because when we need to choose or decide something, you can do so easily by simply determining if the choice lines up with your true core values. A life lined-up with personal values is a well-lived, purpose-filled life.
Want to learn more? Join us at the next Global TapRooT® Summit!
Can I get the pdf version of the values exercise?
I was wonderful to know my core values!
great
Thank you so much I understand it’s better. This helps me out.
independence, kindness, honesty, mindfulness is my core values
Inspirational, Ambition, Dependability, Creativity, Encouragement is my core values.
I was glad to know that Inspirational, Ambition, Dependability, Creativity, Encouragement is my core values.
Thank you I really enjoyed this information.
I understand it better now
this really help in a way i didnt know before
Great exercise. This will definitely help center me when I need encouraging or just in general.
Thanks you! Great Exercise for brainstorming
I teach leadership classes often to police officers and incorporate some of these lessons when I talk to students…can I use this “as is” or is it incorporated in some way
Yes, feel free to use!
Dependable, Honesty, Selfless, Caring
Great core values!
Thank you so much for this exercise, I appreciate learning more about myself. Very helpful!!!!
You’re welcome! Glad it is helpful.
very interesting way of finding out the answers that we may see in ourselves but now say out loud.
Thanks for the information, I learned something new.
Thank you for letting us know, Justine. Core Values is a very well-received topic and it’s easy to see why.
Abundance, Creativity, Security, Growth & Community.
Good to review them from time to time as values can change in life.
Thanks for the step by step guide to explore one’s core value. I found it very helpful.
Thank you very much for sharing the valuable intellectual property. I am a pastor teaching a small group of people in their 50+ and would like to help them find their core values through this exercise with your consent. I will acknowledge the source from you if permitted.
Boldness, Leadership, Humor, Caring, and Cheerfulness are my core values.
Boldness,leadership,Humor,Caring,and cheerfulness are my core values.
Honesty, Mindfulness, Kindness, and Family are my score values.
Just wondering … when they are your core values if you, of course, would think they are the best core values.
Thankyou for a different way of exploring Values and moving them seamlessly onto the front page of living.
Very helpful and insightful! When I have done similar exercises, I believe my values have stayed similar or the same.
Great to revisit and keep in mind who, and what makes me, Me!
I am learning everyone is a leader in their own lives. I am learning the cycle of being a student of life and a leader at intervals in my own life are becoming more apparent. Thanks everyone for your feedback. I am currently the student observer learning from all of you.
Self-Control, Wisdom, Vision, Professionalism, Fun
I truly enjoyed learning something new.
Self-Control, Wisdom, Vision, Professionalism, Fun
This was enlightening.
Self-Control, Wisdom, Vision, Professionalism, Fun are my Core values.
This was enlightening.
yes
Always show LOVE
Be ACCOUNTABLE
Know that I can MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Express JOY, for it is strength for a good WELL BEING
How can I have access
Have Acceptance in your mind, Make Friendships, Be Peaceful, Maintain Relationships, Be Safe
Maintain Independence, look forward to your Growth, Have Self-Control, Keep your Honesty, and keep your Responsibility.
Every now and again I come back to this post just to read what everyone learned about themselves and it always fills me with joy. Put your core values into action and increase your level of happiness, fearlessness and authenticity.
People have clicked on this blog article over 100,000 times. Over 30,000 times in 2022. Who would have guessed?
Great core values! I learned so much.
I learned so much.
I learned a lot today about my core value.
Thanks.
Ohh this one soo cool even I don’t know actually what I am. bUT now I can read myself. I learn my core value. And if I wanna say in one word I am a very sensitive person.
Hello! We use this for faculty and students at our institution. What is the best way to cite the resource to give credit to you all? Additionally, we are interested in tracking impact in our faculty and students. How do I get permission to use this for educational research at our institution? Thank you!
This was a very eye opening exercise.
This module helped me enough to understand my children and families more.
It’s great to have the knowledge to serve my community
Excellent training to have an open mind
Advocacy. empathy, loyalty, responsability, reliability.
Advocacy. empathy, loyalty, responsability, reliability.
This module is very sensitive and gives us a lot of knowledge
this helped me be able to talk effectively to my father
this helped me be able to talk effectively to my father and talk about my emotions
Openminded, Self Control, Fun, Family, Intuition
Open minded, Kindness, Self- belief, Responsibility, Compassion
Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Teamwork and Accountability
Abundance, Acceptance, Appreciation, Balance, Cheerfulness
The mix of the core values are important for leadership. I utilize acceptance at some point, appreciations at another level or mix, and tried to balance things and cheerfulness for some of the things. No single core value is sufficed, so mix is important.
This activity validated what I value most in life and helped me reorient my priorities where I seemed to slacken.
compassion, appreciation, acceptance, development, wisdom, kindness, ambition
Great exercise to place my value cores in a piece of paper y reminde myself everyday. Thank you
A reminder to reflect on what is important on a daily basis.
Love this assignment
una buena manera de conocernos y saber lo que valemos
this is great
Wealth, Growth, Daring, Loving, Happiness, Zeal
Chao Yim-San Diego CA.
March 25,2024 at 12:16 AM
Wonderful training, Happiness, Loving, Caring, Kindness, thank you.
Chao Yim-San Diego, CA
March 25,2024 12:25 AM
I enjoy taking this training, it’s more knowledge to use in my classroom with the students and families in the future. It’s a wonderful training. I love it.
Great exercise. ! I loved the idea of a sticky note ( useful tool) during decision-making. A life lined up with personal core values is a well-lived life.
An instructive simple way to better understand what has for me been the means to navigate the past 80+ years with reasonable success and few regrets, Thanks.
Cheerfulness, Cleverness, honesty, loving is
Luis Luna Miranda (301415342) Centennial College.
Loyalty, Security, Friendship, Making difference, Happiness,
Feel the happiness.
Working hard makes the difference.
I’ve always loved this exercise for identifying personal values. I wonder if anyone has used it to identify organizational values? Also, any experience in operationalizing the values by identifying behaviors to go along with them? Thanks!
This training is wonderful, and excellent.
God is Love. Empathy, open-mindedness, GRATTITUDE.
show Performance, offer acceptance, maintain balance, and Promote well-being. multiply happiness, share love, offer kindness worship peace, compassion,
Mindfulness, Commitment, Trustworthiness, Professionalism, Proactive
My core values are
Acceptance
Accountability
Ambition
Boldness
Creativity
Dedication
Fairness
Humility
Kindness
Punctuality
Kindness – acceptance
Humility – fairness
Boldness – ambition
Dedication – creativity
Accountability- punctuality
Kindness is for group 1
Fairness for group 2
Ambition for group 3
Dedication for group 4
Accountability for group 5
Kindness is the key to success
Acting with fairness makes you worthy
Live with ambition
Work with dedication
Human Life is an accountability
love family, prioritize honesty, maintain balance, focus on relationships, bleed kindness
Cheerfulness, Adventurous, and Humorous (Jon)
Fun, Humor, Kindness (Jerry)
Relationship, Freedom, Quality (Leon)
Pursue a growth mindset and never stop learning.
Be accountable for the actions of the team and yourself.
Take risks.
Be kind, accepting, and give all those around you grace.
Be humble.
This is a good exercise as it validates what i have been living as my core values, which are:
Candour and integrity (I have now put them in sentence to read “Live in candour and integrity in all things”).
Gratitude to God and man.
Can-do.
Compassion and Empathy (I have now put them in sentence to read “Demonstrate Compassion and Empathy at all times”.
Take Care,
Do Good,
Have Fun
Accountability, Excellence, Cheerfulness, Passion, Comittment
Creativity can solve most problems, recognizing teamwork builds unity, and humility (being humble) is powerful in itself.
Family, calmness, versatility, collaboration, optimism
I think the exercise tied perfectly with the HBR supplemental reading that mentions “focus on whole-person growth”; “transforming not just how I lead but how I live”; and “structured self reflection”.
Practice empathy
1. Lead with LOVE
2.Grow in LEADERSHIP
3.Give APPRECIATION
4.Continue PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
5.Have STABILITY
Kindness, Empathy
Appreciation, Balance, Cheerfulness, Encouragement
Encouragement
“Encourage each other”
Strive for perfection
Responsible to protect others
challenge to learn
Honesty provides reassurance
Feel thankful
diversity
leading
spirituality
family
Ambition Combine with Professionalism and Responsiveness gives a Success Team Work
well-being, achievement, trustworthiness, warmth
Growth, Inclusiveness, Encouragement, Personal Development, Inspiration
Accelerate ACHIEVEMENT, Lead with HUMILITY, Achieve work-life BALANCE.
Accountability; Appreciation; Collaboration; Innovation; Independence; Growth; Flexibility; Leadership; Personal Development; Preparedness; Quality; Recognition; Service; Safety
Safety of you, your family and your career path
Intrusive and Transparent Leadership
Centered around Appreciation
Prioritize Professional Development and Career Path
Prepare and Deliver on Work
1. Build Trustworthiness
2. Demonstrate Cleverness
3. Embody Dedication
1. Be understanding of others
2. Live with happiness
3. Build personal relationships
4. Move as in popularity
5. Show your creativity
Embrace empathy to understand and support one another, while flexibility allows us to adapt and grow together.
Leadership that inspires growth, driven by a commitment to knowledge and through every challenge, we see an opportunity to innovate, improve, and lead with purpose.
With courage and self-control, we navigate challenges, making thoughtful choices while encouraging risk-taking as a pathway to innovation and success.
My Main Core Values:
1. Live in freedom
2. Promote fairness and accountability
3. Seek work and life balance
4. Build trustworthy relationships
5. Encourage optimism and growth
1. Expand Knowledge
2. Strive for Achievement
3. Care for Family
4. Exemplify Leadership
5. Promote Understanding
act mindfully,
promote collaborations,
work for professional growth,
seek happiness,
understand differences,
Motivate the team,
care for family
being cheerfulness, appreciations, mindful at all times in leadership. thank you.
create happiness, share knowledge, work in collaborations and seek trust worthy relationship.
create happiness, share knowledge, work in fairness and accountability and seek trustworthy relationship.
build relationship, strive for achievement, inclusiveness, encouragement
show creativity, promote stability, apply simplicity, and advance safety for the workers.
promote stability
promote freedom of life and work, apply leadership, work for popularity, strive results.
promote freedom of life and work
appreciate boldness, work with dedications, build trust, and invest in personal development
make balanced decision,
maintain healthy Enviromint,
give attention for personal development
promote optimum use of resources
make balanced decisions
A balance of wealth and well being, An honest family with compassion, Learning Excellence.
be more understanding, make a difference, show empathy,
Mis valores fundamentale son:
Desarrollar la inteligencia
Aplicar la Humildad
Tomar buenas decisiones
Continue gratuity.
Prioritize family.
Practice empathy.
Live by being resilient.
Keep peace as a goal.
cooperation empathy responsibility thankfulnss stability
Respect, intreguity, teamwork and accoy
Well honestly I was looking for the core values exercise?
Great exercice…thanks
It is so helpfull i really enjoyed the content.
It is so helpfull i really enjoyed the content. Learning-personal development-resourcefulness-knowledge-growth- being the best
This is really amazing. I have never seen it as such before and I like the way core values are group and one can highlight and I have Mindfulness’, Collaboration, empowerment, and inspirational.
Great content. Thank you.
appreciation, safety, motivation
kindness, humour, inspiration
It’s easy to say we value things like freedom, growth, or kindness, but putting them into words we can actually live by makes them much more meaningful. This is a simple exercise, but it could be a powerful reminder to make decisions based on what truly matters to us.
This is excellent. Would you be happy if we adapt it to use in a wellbeing toolkit for students? Happy to acknowledge the original source.
Family – Health – Leadership – Freedom – Achievement .
This exercise clarified my 5 core values: love, integrity, service, growth and freedom. Nurturing relationships, acting honestly and humbly, serving others, learning continuously and living by my beliefs. The real test is honoring these values when they compete, especially when demanding work commitments strain family time and personal peace.
I’ve come to the realization that an enterprise value only becomes real when you explicitly define what the organization is willing to sacrifice to uphold it. Culture is never what leaders preach in townhalls or boardrooms, it’s the behavior systems tolerate at 4:45 PM on a Friday.