Identification of Values Exercise

When reflecting on values, remember that values indicate how you want to behave – how you want to treat yourselves, others, and the world around you.

With that in mind, take a few minutes to review the values listed on the next page. Mark all the ones that are important to you.  If, after you have reviewed the list, you feel that there are important values that have not been listed, you can add them to the bottom of the list. After that, go through the list of values that you have marked as important, and underline the 5 that are most important.

Once you have identified your 5 most important values, you can do some journaling on how these values inform your behavior across a variety of situations and contexts.  Where are you doing a good job of aligning your life, your priorities and your actions with your values? Where would you like to create greater alignment?

Acceptance/Self-acceptance

Achievement

Adventure

Ambition

Assertiveness

Authenticity

Caring/Self-care

Clarity

Commitment

Communication

Community Involvement

Compassion/Self-compassion

Competence

Connection

Contribution and Generosity

Cooperation

Courage

Creativity

Curiosity

Ease with uncertainty

Efficiency

Encouragement

Engagement

Enthusiasm/Positive Attitude

Environmental Engagement

Excellence

Fairness and Justice

Faith

Family

Financial Stability

Forgiveness

Freedom and Independence

Friendliness/Friendship

Forgiveness/Self-forgiveness

Fun/Humor/Playfulness

Future Generations

Gratitude and Appreciation

Growth

Generosity

Honesty

Health

Hardworking

Intimacy

Independence

Integrity

Kindness

Leadership

Learning

Listening

Loving/Nurturing

Making a difference

Mindfulness/Awareness

Organization

Openness

Patience

Perseverance

Presence

Reliability

Resilience/Adaptability

Respect/Self-respect

Responsibility

Risk-Taking

Safety and Protection

Self-Control/Self-Discipline

Sensuality and Pleasure

Service

Sexuality

Skillfulness

Spirituality

Stability

Supportiveness

Teamwork

Trust

Vision

Wealth

Well-Being (Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual)

Wisdom

Other values that you resonate with that are not listed?