Definition

By definition, a value is a belief that something is good or desirable and worth striving for, regardless of context or circumstance.

Values are not the same as needs or preferences—but they do influence our preferences and help us get our needs met. Values are also different from goals. A goal is a target you can achieve and cross off a list (e.g. getting a job); a value is an ongoing direction you travel in (eg. honesty).

Psychologist Shalom Schwartz identified that values have six characteristics [1]:

1. They are linked to emotion. People feel strongly about what they value. When a value is activated, it is infused with feeling. For instance, someone who values independence will feel anxious if their freedom is threatened, helpless if they cannot protect it, and happy when they can fully exercise it. In this sense, our values are, in many ways, extensions of ourselves.
2. They motivate action. Values inspire not only your goals, but the pursuit of them, as well. Those who prioritize social order, justice, or helpfulness are motivated to act in ways that promote these ideals.
3. They apply across contexts. Unlike preferences or norms, which are tied to specific situations, values remain relevant in various settings. For example, if you value loyalty, then you likely value it everywhere in your life: in the workplace, in politics, in business, and in your personal relationships.
4. They serve as standards for judgement. They guide how people evaluate actions, policies, individuals, and events. They help determine what is good or bad, justified or illegitimate, worth doing or avoiding. While values often operate in the background of your mind, they come into awareness when you face decisions with significant or conflicting implications.
5. They are ranked in importance. People do not hold all values equally—they prioritize some over others. One person may value achievement more than justice, while another may place greater importance on tradition over novelty. This ordering of values helps define individuals and their choices.
6. They involve trade-offs. Pursuing some values often means sacrificing others. For example, honesty might be sacrificed to protect loyalty, striving for personal success might conflict with helping others. People’s behavior results from balancing compatible values and managing conflicts between competing ones.

Why it Matters

Values are possibly the most important component of stable mental health and sustained happiness. Because values help us define what’s important.

When we lack clarity on what’s important, we feel stuck and overwhelmed with making life decisions. Every option can seem both life-and-death important and completely meaningless—all at once.

This not only makes decision-making and prioritizing almost impossible, but it can leave us feeling lost and aimless. Which is how we end up committing to relationships, jobs, or projects that aren’t quite “right”—and then wondering why we feel drained or unsatisfied.

But when you know better, you can choose better. Which is why clarifying and identifying your core values matters so much.

Your core values function as an internal life compass. People who discover and embody their values experience :

1. Less stress, more peace: Living true to your values reduces internal conflict and stress, leading to better mental health and even a calmer physiological stress response.
2. Greater resilience and emotional stability: Your values provide an emotional anchor, making you more resilient during crisis and contributing to a more stable, balanced emotional life.
3. Meaningful happiness: Following your values boosts life satisfaction and sense of fulfilment by infusing your life with meaning and purpose. You’re happier when you pursue what you find meaningful, rather than external definitions of success.
4. Mental clarity: When your actions match your beliefs, you experience less mental friction. This cognitive alignment leads to clearer thinking and more confident decision-making, without the fog of regret or self-doubt.
5. Better relationships: Living authentically according to your values fosters trust and understanding in relationships. It encourages healthy interactions and attracts people who respect you for who you are, leading to stronger social connections.
6. More motivation and drive: Values give you a powerful why. They ignite your internal motivation and help you stick to your goals, making it more likely that you’ll achieve outcomes that truly satisfy you.
7. More confidence and a stronger identity : Knowing your values is knowing who you are, independent of others’ opinions. This makes you less susceptible to peer pressure and Fear Of Missing Out. Understanding your own definition of success and causes of discontent provides a stronger self-confidence. Letting society define success for you is a recipe for burnout and emptiness.

List of personal values

Here is a comprehensive list of personal values:

Core Character

• Authenticity: Being genuine, honest, and true to your own personality and spirit.
• Integrity: Acting with honesty and strong moral principles, even when no one is watching.
• Accountability: Taking responsibility for your actions, decisions, and their consequences.
• Honesty: Being truthful and sincere in your words and actions.
• Courage: Facing fear, difficulty, or uncertainty with strength and resilience.
• Humility: Having a modest view of one’s own importance; being grounded.
• Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; mental toughness.
• Self-Discipline: The ability to control your feelings and overcome weaknesses.

Relationships & Community

• Connection: A sense of belonging, closeness, and being seen by others.
• Compassion: Showing empathy and concern for the suffering of others.
• Kindness: Being considerate, generous, and friendly.
• Loyalty: A strong feeling of support or allegiance to people or principles.
• Respect: Treating others with consideration and valuing their worth.
• Forgiveness: Letting go of resentment and anger toward those who have wronged you.
• Family: Cherishing and prioritizing relationships with family members.
• Friendship: Valuing deep, supportive, and reciprocal bonds with friends.

Fulfillment

• Growth: A commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.
• Learning: Pursuing knowledge, understanding, and new skills for their own sake.
• Wisdom: Using experience, knowledge, and good judgment to make decisions.
• Self-awareness: Having a clear perception of your personality, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Curiosity: A strong desire to know, learn, and explore.
• Adventure: Seeking out novel, exciting, or daring experiences.
• Creativity: Using imagination or original ideas to create something.
• Freedom / autonomy : The power to act, speak, or think without undue restraint.
• Stability / security / comfort

Purpose & Contribution

• Service: Contributing to the well-being of others and your community.
• Generosity: Giving freely of your time, resources, or energy.
• Justice: Promoting fairness, equality, and righteous treatment for all.
• Leadership: Guiding, inspiring, and influencing others toward a goal.
• Legacy: Building something of lasting value that impacts others after you’re gone.
• Making a difference: Having a positive impact on the world or people around you.
• Sustainability: Living in a way that protects the environment and future generations.

Work & Achievement

• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in all you do.
• Diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort.
• Ambition: Having a strong desire for achievement, success, or distinction.
• Mastery: The commitment to becoming highly skilled or expert in something.
• Reliability: Being consistently trustworthy and dependable.
• Efficiency / productivity: Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort.
• Innovation: Introducing new methods, ideas, or products.

Well-being

• Health (physical / mental): Prioritizing the well-being of your body and mind.
• Peace: Seeking inner calm, tranquility, and freedom from stress.
• Balance: Maintaining a healthy equilibrium among life’s various domains.
• Gratitude: Appreciating and being thankful for what you have.
• Mindfulness: Being consciously present and engaged in the current moment.
• Simplicity: Embracing a less complicated, uncluttered life and mindset.
• Joy / Happiness: Pursuing and appreciating experiences of pleasure and contentment.

In Part II, we’ll explore several methods to help you identify your core values.

[1] Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1).

This article was adapted from “Your Values Guide” by Mark Manson.