They say a life well lived is a life lived according to values.  

Our values are the qualities and beliefs that are most important to us. When we live in line with our values, they provide us with direction and meaning in life. Without them, we can feel disconnected and overwhelmed. Intentionally incorporating our values into our life can boost well-being and make us more resistant to stress. Our values can also help guide our decisions no matter how big or small they may be.

Taking the time to pinpoint exactly what values you want to live by is very important. If we don’t do this, then we could lose what is important to us and end up living in line with the values of others. Once we identify our values the next step is committing to values-based living. Like most things, this is a lot easier said than done but it can help you flourish in life.

How to identify your values

Step one: Brainstorming

To begin, start by thinking about what is important to you in your life right now. Are there any standout moments in your life where you felt proud, happy, or fulfilled? If you could find a word that encompasses this moment, what would it be? For example, is it creativity, learning, family, honesty or being adventurous? If you need some inspiration, try searching for a list of personal values. Try and keep an open mind when brainstorming what is important to you, you might surprise yourself with your answers.

Step two: Pick your most important values

After thinking about what is important to you in life it’s time to pick your top values. Try writing out all the values that you think are important to you. From your list try and reduce it down to your top 5. This helps narrow things down for setting goals.

Step three: Rank and define

The next step is to rank your values in order of importance to you. This will help you prioritise your top values and will help you make satisfying decisions guided by them. It is important you also define what each value means to you as this will make it more meaningful and personal. For example, if you value caring, what does this mean to you? Is it caring for yourself, others, the environment, objects, or animals?

Step four: Action plan

You now will have a list of your top 5 values all ranked and defined, congratulate yourself because this can be hard to do. Now it’s time to turn those values into action and find ways to incorporate them into your everyday life. Try and set yourself weekly goals. For example, if you value creativity, you could schedule 1 hour every week to do something creative. Try creating an action plan using the SMART goal setting framework.