Values Based Goal Setting: How to Identify Actionable, Personal Core Values
- Gillian Forth
- May 31
- 2 min read

1. Reflect on your past experiences:
Think about times when you felt the most joy, accomplishment, or satisfaction. What activities, relationships, or situations contributed to these feelings?
Consider times when you felt most proud. What values were you upholding or demonstrating in those situations?
2. Identify values that resonate with you:
Create a list of values that come to mind, both from your reflections and from reading lists of potential values.
Examples of values include: integrity, compassion, resilience, creativity, independence, initiative, honesty, etc.
Write down the values that feel most important and meaningful to you.
3. Categorize and refine your list:
Group similar values together. For example, if you value both "adventure" and "excitement," you might group them under the theme of "exploration".
Eliminate any duplicates or overlaps. Identify the core value that best represents the group.
4. Prioritize your top core values:
Rank your values in order of importance to you. This will help you determine your top 3-5 core values.
Refine your list by eliminating values that are not as important to you as others.
5. Define your values:
Once you've identified your top core values, take some time to define them more specifically. What do they mean to you, and how do they guide your decisions and actions?
Write down short, clear definitions of each value in your own words.
6. Identify what these values look like in ACTION - What behaviours demonstrate these values? Think daily, weekly, monthly, annually
eg. Commitment to Personal Growth - proactively engaging in activities that foster self-improvement and development. This includes learning new skills, seeking feedback, embracing challenges, and continuously reflecting on your progress.
Every day I will read an article or at least ten pages of a non-fiction book to learn about new ideas, perspectives, and challenge my current understandings.
I will practice guitar for 30 minutes every day
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