It is possible to find fulfillment and direction in life by knowing your personal values.Your values can guide you to life and career choices that give you meaning.Staying true to your values will help you get on the right path when you have a choice to make.The following activities reveal what is important to you.You can use your personal values to redesign your life once you discover them.You can use this to create a life and career that meshes with your values.
Step 1: List the most important things in your life.
You probably have a few things that you care about most in your life, like your family and friends.Take a few minutes to think about what is important in life and write it down.Think of at least 5 things.You could write about being creative, helping others, being kind to animals, and learning new things.
Step 2: Take a look at the experiences where you truly felt engaged.
It is easy to lose yourself in the moment when you are doing something important to you.Think about the times in your life when you felt this way.It's important to keep in mind that these experiences don't need to be happy.When you figure out which value it might reflect, ask yourself what made the experience fulfilling.You can write, "When I helped my friend Amy after her accident," "when I won a service award at school," and " when I fostered a litter of kittens."You might realize that you had to get creative in finding activities you could do together during her recovery, which felt exciting, but you may have enjoyed feeling helpful.
Step 3: On your 80th birthday, what do you want people to say about you?
You can look back on your life to decide how you want to live.You can picture yourself celebrating 8 decades on Earth.Think about what this might say about your values in life.Who is at my party?What do people think about me?What have I done to people's lives?What have I accomplished?What do you think about your values?
Step 4: Think about what you admire in other people.
First, identify 2 or 3 people you admire, such as family members, friends, leaders, celebrities, or fictional characters.Determine what you admire about them, such as their accomplishments or talents.Determine what values they might reflect on.These are personal values that you hold.You might admire Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. for his commitment to standing up for what is right.
Step 5: Make a list of what you want in life.
If you want to create 2 columns in a word document, fold a piece of paper in half.Write down your answers to the questions on the left side of the page.Write down your values on the right side of the page.It will probably be a long list, but it will give you more ways to learn about yourself.What do you want to accomplish?What do you want to be when you grow up?What are you hoping to have?What do you want to see?What do you want to do with your time?What are your goals?
Step 6: What is important to you can be determined by using a values inventory list.
A values inventory has a list of values that you can review.Write down the values you identify with.Pick out the top 10 values that are most important to you.You can use this list here: https://www.cmu.edu/career/documents/my-career-path-activities/values-exercise.
Step 7: The top 10 core values have been identified.
List the top 10 that are most important to you after you have done 1 or more activities to reveal your values.Number 1 is the value most important to you, so rank these values from 1-10.This list can be used to help you make choices.It is okay for your values and ranking to change over time.It is natural for some values to change because you are always learning.
Step 8: You can rate your life on a scale of 1-10.
Work your way down from the top of your list.Think about how you follow each value in your life.Give yourself a 10 if you feel the value is fully expressed.If you don't see this value in your life, give yourself a 1.Let's say you value artistic expression.You can give yourself a 10 for artistic expression if you make art, learn about art and have a few art prints that you love.If you have a few books about art but don't include it in your life, you might only give yourself a 1.
Step 9: Use a scale of 1-10 to determine if your career is aligned with each value.
If you want to be fulfilled in your life and work, you need to express your values through your career choice.Think about the value of your job or career.If you feel like your career reflects the value, give it a 10, but only if it doesn't.Let's say you value helping people.You might give yourself a 10 if you help people.If you have a job where you don't interact directly with people, you might only give yourself a 3, which could make you feel unfulfilled.
Step 10: You should look for values that aren't in your life.
When you rate your career and life based on your values, you need to identify the values you don't incorporate into your life.Improving these areas will make you feel happier and more fulfilled.It will help you find meaning in your activities.List the values you want to incorporate into your life.As you make changes to your life, use this list.
Step 11: Imagine what your ideal life would be like.
If you were fully expressing your values, who would you be?Where would you like to live?What kind of work would you do?How would you spend your time?Make sure your choices are in line with your values.In your ideal life, you would be helping people get fit through dance.Imagine living in a big city on the coast, teaching cardio dance classes at a gym, and going to the beach with friends in your spare time.You might want to own animals because of your love for them.It is possible to narrow this down to your ideal week or day.What would you be doing this week?Who would you be spending time with?
Step 12: You should identify careers that fit your values.
You can find meaning and purpose in life if you find a career that fits your values.Think about the types of tasks you enjoy doing on a daily basis, what type of environment you would like to work in, and who you are interested in working with.Look for a career that reflects these values.Let's say you want to help people in your community and do community impact projects.Government and political jobs, social work, urban planning, and public health are some of the careers that have these qualities.
Step 13: Make a list of things you can do to live your ideal life.
Make a list of 5 things you can do to start living your best life.Break down your list into easy steps.Pick one thing that you can do today.You can start aligning your life and career with your values by choosing 1 small thing each day.You should find that your life is more aligned with your values over time.The process can be fast or slow for you.