The Importance Of Core Values in Life – A Powerful Journey From Authenticity To Happiness

Welcome back, so happy to see you. This week we discuss the importance of core values in life and how authenticity can lead you to happiness and a deeper sense of purpose. If you are ready to pursue happiness, trust your core values to lead the way.

We all have core values, but sometimes our core values can be hidden in the subconscious and we might be less aware of them.

Humans are creatures of habit and as we pick up habits, we also pick up values.

Growing up, we tend to pick up the values surrounding us, meaning we adopt the values defined by society, religion, culture, family, etc. It makes sense, as these values work for the bigger collective and help us be accepted and find a place in society.

But considering that we are all different, how do these collective values…

• apply to us on a personal level?
• influence the way we live our lives?
• and most importantly how do these collective values apply to our happiness?

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Key takeaway

• Core values highlight what we stand for. They shape our beliefs, values and principles and define who we are.
• Whether they are conscious or unconscious, core values guide your choices and decision-making process in daily life.
• Consider your core values as guiding principles supporting your personal growth, finding life balance, long-lasting happiness and a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.

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Don’t get me wrong, we are all in this together, and when it comes to being part of a community or relationship, having similar values is key, otherwise there is no common base and without a common base, communities and relationships cannot exist.

And yes, the importance of core values in life is vital as they pretty much define whether you are happy or unhappy in life, but what exactly are core values?

What are core values?

Core values or personal core values are unique and are different for everyone.

They highlight what we stand for, shape our beliefs and principles and reflect what matters most to us.

Core values are like DNA. They are our essence and define who we are as a person.

Core values examples

Core values cover a wide range of qualities, such as:

• honesty
• compassion
• integrity
• courage
• success
• loyalty
• respect
• growth
• family
• health
• beauty
• freedom
• communication
• friendship
• money
• achievement
• independence
• …

The list of core values continues and you can find more examples for inspiration here.

The importance of core values in life

Now that we have defined what core values are and looked at a few examples of core values, let’s talk about the importance of core values in life and how these core values influence and shape our daily lives.

Here we go…Core values are like a moral compass; consciously or unconsciously, core values guide our decision-making process.

Our core values can help us make authentic choices and the more we live in alignment with our core values, the happier we are.

In addition to this, core values provide clarity and focus in life. Core values help us set priorities and stay focused on our long-term goals. They are helping us step-by-step to create a life that truly matters to us.

Core values also help us to set clear boundaries in relationships, helping us to build healthy and long-lasting relationships that will enrich our lives.

Last but not least, core values can help us to find purpose. Understanding and living by our core values can help us to discover and pursue a purposeful life that reflects our true beliefs and aspirations.

In summary, the importance of core values in life is vital, but let’s take this a step further and look at how the importance of core values in life plays out in different areas.

The importance of core values in life – relationships

Core values are at the heart of any relationship (family, friends, lovers, work, etc.) as they shape the dynamics of personal interactions.

When people share the same core values e.g. ‘loyalty’, ‘honesty’, ‘respect’, ‘communication’, etc., it creates an environment for mutual understanding and trust.

It also creates a sense of emotional safety and compatibility, reducing the likelihood of major conflicts arising from fundamental differences.

So yes, when looking at the importance of core values in life and relationships, one can say that common core values form a healthy basis for relationships to grow and flourish.

Recognizing, respecting, and nurturing the core values of both individuals in a relationship is important for establishing and sustaining a fulfilling and enduring connection built on trust, shared goals, and mutual respect.

The importance of core values in life – career

This is when I have to ask you the magic question: do you love your job?

I get it, reality can be a bitch and bills need to be paid, but when we talk about the importance of core values in life and more specifically in your career, know that core values influence job satisfaction, professional growth as well as success in your career.

In other words, if your core values align with the company values and your career choice, you are in pole position as this will help to create a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

On a personal level, this will contribute to your inner happiness and on a professional level this will motivate you to thrive higher and support you in building a strong and long-lasting career.

The importance of core values in life when it comes to your career is a key factor for your professional success and most importantly living a healthy work-life balance allowing you to live a healthy lifestyle and create healthy lifestyle habits.

On the other hand, a misalignment between personal values and the values of a job or company can lead to dissatisfaction, stagnation in your professional development, frustration, up until burnout, etc.

The importance of core values in life – purpose

Sooner or later in life, we all start looking for the same thing: purpose.

Finding your purpose in life is a deeply personal journey that will take time and invites constant self-discovery.

Sometimes this can be challenging, but knowing your core values is a great starting point on your quest for purpose.

By aligning your actions, choices, and goals with your core values, you embrace authenticity and allow yourself to be, ultimately spending more time doing the things that matter to you most in life, supporting you step-by-step along your journey to finding purpose.

Tip: If you are looking to find your purpose, self-reflection is a great way to get started. Reflect on your values, and passions, read books, listen to podcasts about people who have found their purpose, think about starting a journal, etc. These are just a few steps that you can take to help you find your purpose, but if you would like to dive deeper, check out this article here.

The importance of core values in life – How to define your core values

After our deep dive into the importance of core values in life, and how the importance of core values in life plays out in different areas of life, let’s get to work and let me help you define your core values.

If you are a regular on this blog, you know how much I 🖤 a journal exercise. Journaling is a great way for self-reflection, getting to the bottom of things, gaining a different perspective, etc. and the journal questions below are designed to help guide you to your core values.

Tip: As with every journal exercise, allow yourself enough time, switch off your phone to avoid any distractions. Most importantly, allow yourself to be honest with yourself. Honesty is the best catalyst for transformation.

Part 1 – journal prompts

Get your journal, or a few empty sheets of paper and go through the journal questions below one by one.

• Look back at your life and write down the moments when you were most happy in your life. Describe these moments in detail and pay attention to why you were happy.
• Look back at your life and write down the moments when you were most sad in your life. Describe these moments in detail and pay attention to why you were sad.
• Think about people you admire or look up to. What qualities or values do they possess that you find inspiring?
• List out all the principles that you believe should guide how people treat each other and the world around them.
• If you could only choose three words to describe yourself, what would they be, and why?
• What characteristics within yourself are you most proud of and why?
• Reflect on a time when you made a difficult decision. What values influenced your choice?
• What issues or causes in the world do you feel passionate about and want to contribute to?
• Think about your favourite books, movies, songs, etc. Are there any recurring themes or messages that resonate with you? What values do they reflect?
• Describe a situation where you felt inauthentic/completely out of place. What values were being compromised, and why did it feel that way?
• What are your non-negotiables in your relationships with others e.g., trust, honesty, respect, etc.?
• What values should be at the core of your work and career choices?
• If money did not matter, what would you do?
• How do you deal with challenges?
• What makes you angry and why does it make you angry?
• What qualities do you look for in a partner/friend/job? Why do these qualities matter to you?
• Who are the friends you like spending time with? Who are the friends you don’t like spending time with? Why?

Tip: Feel free to take a break whenever you feel like it. Alternatively, you can also split this exercise into two or three parts. There is no right or wrong, do whatever works best for you.

Part 2 – Connect the dots

Use your notes/answers as a basis and start to connect the dots.

The examples below will help you to get started:

Example 1:

If, for example, you don’t like spending time with this particular friend because he/she is flaky and keeps cancelling at the last minute, maybe one of your core values is ‘commitment’. Or if this friend always turns up 15 minutes late, maybe one of your values is ‘respect’.

Example 2:

Another example is if the person who inspires you most is living his/her dream, one of your core values could be ‘integrity’. Or if the person who inspires you most is e.g. career-oriented, one of your core values could be ‘wealth’ or ‘success’.

Go through your notes step by step. As you reflect on your notes, look for patterns, recurring themes, or common values that emerge.

Write down the values that you’ve identified as important to you.

You are likely to end up with a long list of core values.

From that long list, pick the top 3 – 4 core values that feel most important to you.

Over the next few days, keep coming back to your 3 – 4 core values, reflect upon them further, and sit with them and if after a few days, these core values still feel authentic to you, congratulations, you defined your list of core values.

Part 3 – Reality check

You defined your core values, let’s take them into action and do a reality check. The first step towards inviting more happiness into your life.

Ask yourself:

• Considering your core values, how well does your current life align with your core values?
• What are the areas in your life that align with your core values?
• What are the areas in your life that don’t align with your core values?
• How do your core values show in your current life and relationships?
• What changes do you have to make in your day-to-day life to live in alignment with your core values?

Being aware of your core values already helps as you will notice yourself making better choices for yourself. Choices and decisions that are more aligned with your core values, but keep in mind that your happiness is your responsibility and let’s be honest, no one will change your life for you.

If you are serious about your happiness, it is down to you to put in the work. You have to make the necessary changes but rest assured, every minute you invest in yourself will pay off.

Tip: Your core values can change over time. Hence I would recommend revisiting your core values now and then to make sure that your core values are still true to you.

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The importance of core values in life is vital and in a way knowing your core values is like knowing your superpower.

When I went through the process of defining my core values, it gave me a lot of clarity about relationship dynamics in certain friendships that I have/had. And over time I did let go of certain friendships and people. This is of course not always easy but at the same time it allows you to focus more on the relationships that support you, enrich your life and contribute to your happiness.

Another area that was big time impacted was my corporate career. Throughout my corporate life, I worked for many different companies, and some of them I joined and left pretty quickly. Today I can look back and say that our values did not match and if I now look for a job, I know exactly what questions to ask in the interview to avoid disappointment in the future.

Defining my core values has also given me more clarity about my overall life goals and I got so much better in setting priorities helping me to keep a healthy work-life balance and work towards my life goals at the same time.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey from authenticity to happiness.

Now I am curious to hear from you and what you think about the importance of core values in life and how defining your core values helped you to change your life for the better.

As always, feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts about the importance of core values in life.

Before you go…if you enjoyed reading about the importance of core values in life, I think you will enjoy the blog posts below:

• How to Start Journaling – The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Awakening your Inner Light: 55 Transformative Shadow Work Journal Prompts
• Empower Your Voice: How To Set Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

Thank you so much for your time and your space.

See you next week.

Stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured image: Photo by Oliver Pacas on Unsplash