What are values? What are yours? And why do they matter?
A “value” is just something that holds meaning.
But when we discuss a person’s values, we’re referring to a set of personal guiding beliefs that define what matters and what doesn’t.
Values are inspired by social norms, culture, politics, art, and are directly and indirectly taught by parents and caretakers.
Ultimately, values are the ways in which we interpret what matters most to us. Our values are what align our actions, words and efforts in life to what we desire and need to feel fulfilled.
Think of your values like a lens through which you make choices and decisions: as you seek fulfillment, purpose and joy in life, it’s your values that define what brings you these outcomes. Your values are an invisible internal belief system — what I like to call a “soul-code” — that quietly define how you value what you value, and why.
What Are My Values? 35 Popular Choices
After referencing longer lists of values from Google searches over the years, I’ve decided to share the top guiding beliefs that I most commonly use and hear from participants in my workshops, yoga classes, online courses and various teachings.
These 35 choices are the ones that I find most popular with my yoga students, creatives and writers.
Whether you’re an “everyday yogi,” a mindfulness type, a conscientious journeyer or seeker or beyond, you may find this list helpful in identifying some values of your own:
1. Abundance
2. Adventure
3. Artistry
4. Authenticity
5. Celebration
6. Clarity
7. Collaboration
8. Community
9. Compassion
10. Ease
11. Faith
12. Freedom
13. Generosity
14. Health
15. Humor
16. Harmony
17. Independence
18. Individuality
19. Joy
20. Kindness
21. Leadership
22. Love
23. Openness
24. Play/Playfulness
25. Prosperity
26. Purpose
27. Self-Reliance
28. Service
29. Simplicity
30. Spirituality
31. Tolerance
32. Truth
33. Usefulness
34. Wealth
35. Virtue
OTHER: __________
So what are your top 3 values, right now?
Don’t be surprised if your top 3 guiding beliefs change over time, either.
The big idea is that your values matter because they’re already defining how you interpret your life, decisions, actions, and choices.
Identifying even just a few of your values helps you consciously understand what matters most to you, and why.
By exploring them further, you can help yourself make the “right” choices by aligning future decisions to your values.
P.S. — If you’d like to go a step further with your top values now that you’ve identified them, head on over to explore this popular article on how to explore your values through journaling.