In this life, finding meaning and purpose is a universal experience. One way to navigate life is to lean into your values and use them as a guide to find purpose and meaning. Values are guiding principles that shape the way we make decisions, choose relationships, and behave. When we make the choice to align our lives with our core values we can find authenticity, fulfillment, and purpose. This guide will explore the importance of leaning into your values and offer practical tips on how to integrate them into your daily life.

Clarifying your values:

Before we understand how, we must understand what. What are your core values? Values act as a compass, directing behavior and decision-making. We may think we have clarity on that but so often, we hold a wide array of values in our arsenal. It isn’t unreasonable to think that you may hold many values as important. So, let’s start there.

1. Narrow down your values by utilizing Brene Brown’s list of values: https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/. Start by circling any values that resonate deeply with you. For this first run through, don’t think too hard. Circle ten values and write them in a list off to the side.

2. Now is the real challenge. You are going to narrow down your values to two core options. Maybe for you this is easy and you will know immediately. For many, this will be much more challenging. Maybe you start by narrowing down the values to five. Next, if you are stuck, start off by noticing if you have any values on this list that may cover the same ways of being. This could be kindness and caring or giving back and generosity. Another eliminator may be a value that fits within another value such as integrity and honesty. In this case, integrity is likely the first tier value you may want to select. Now go off and pick those two!

3. Now that you have selected your values, try to use each in an elevator pitch. Let’s say you want to define your core values to someone else and one of your core values is reliability. You might say - “I seek reliability in the people around me, my job, and the framework in which I live. This means that I show up on time, I follow-through on commitments, and I look for that in others.” Can you do this for your two values?

Living into your values:

Now that we have defined our values and taken them out for a spin, let’s get some tips for aligning with them more deeply.

1. Set goals that align with your values. You will want to identify both short and long term goals that live out your values. Maybe your goal utilizes one value or maybe it utilizes both. This will add a sense of purpose to your goals and ensure that they align with what matters deeply to you.

2. Make intentional decisions. When decisions arise, consider how an action or event may or may not align with your values. This ensures that all choices big and small reflect your core beliefs, leading to a more intentional life.

3. Participate in regular reflection. Utilize reflection to assess whether your actions and behaviors align with your values. Do not expect perfection but rather an opportunity for growth. Add this to your schedule to ensure it happens regularly.

4. Participate in values-driven conversations with people in your life. Having knowledge of your loved ones’ core values can only strengthen your commitment to living in your values. Bringing people you care about into these conversations or maybe even taking them through this exercise can provide encouragement and make values-based intention a bigger part of your world.

Leaning into your values can add increased depth to your life and the meaning you create along the way. Be kind to yourself as you embark on this journey of discovery. It is not a perfect science but rather a way to find satisfaction in the decisions we make along the way. Good luck!