Values Clarification Exercise
Discover What You Stand For — Then Build a Life Around It
Values Clarification Exercise
Discover What You Stand For — Then Build a Life Around It
Here's something that might surprise you: most people cannot name their top 5 values without really thinking about it. Yet research consistently shows that values-aligned living is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction, resilience, and genuine confidence. If you don't know what you stand for, you'll fall for everything (or nothing at all).
Coach's Note: Values work is the backbone of everything I do with clients. When someone is stuck — in their career, their relationships, their sense of self — the problem is almost always a values conflict or a values gap. This exercise is where we start.
PART 1: THE MASTER VALUES LIST (50+ Values)
Read through the full list. Circle every value that resonates with you — don't filter yet, just feel your way through. Add any values that aren't listed but matter to you.
Achievement
Adventure
Altruism
Ambition
Authenticity
Autonomy
Balance
Beauty
Belonging
Boldness
Charity
Clarity
Collaboration
Commitment
Compassion
Connection
Contribution
Courage
Creativity
Curiosity
Dependability
Determination
Dignity
Discipline
Empathy
Equality
Excellence
Fairness
Faith
Family
Financial Security
Freedom
Generosity
Grace
Growth
Happiness
Health
Honesty
Hope
Humility
Humor
Impact
Independence
Influence
Integrity
Joy
Justice
Kindness
Knowledge
Leadership
Learning
Legacy
Loyalty
Love
Mastery
Meaning
Mindfulness
Nature
Nurturing
Open-mindedness
Optimism
Passion
Peace
Perseverance
Play
Power
Purpose
Reciprocity
Resilience
Respect
Responsibility
Security
Self-expression
Service
Simplicity
Spirituality
Spontaneity
Stability
Strength
Success
Sustainability
Tradition
Trust
Truth
Unity
Vulnerability
Wellness
Wisdom
Wonder
Other values I'd add:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
PART 2: THE VALUES NARROWING PROCESS
Step 1: From All to 15
From everything you circled, select your top 15. Write them here:
Step 2: From 15 to 10
Look at your 15. Some of them are expressions of a deeper value. For example, "kindness" and "compassion" might both point to "love." Try grouping similar values together. Which 10 remain distinct and irreducible?
Step 3: The Forced Ranking — Down to 5
This is where it gets real. Use this method: compare each of your 10 values head-to-head. If you had to choose between living by Value A and Value B — only one — which would you choose? The one you consistently choose rises to the top.
This is uncomfortable. It's supposed to be. Do it anyway.
My Top 5 Values (ranked 1–5):
1. ___________________________ This value is non-negotiable because: ___________________________________
2. ___________________________ This value is non-negotiable because: ___________________________________
3. ___________________________ This value is non-negotiable because: ___________________________________
4. ___________________________ This value is non-negotiable because: ___________________________________
5. ___________________________ This value is non-negotiable because: ___________________________________
PART 3: THE VALUES HIERARCHY EXERCISE
Sometimes our values conflict. When they do, we need to know which one "wins." This exercise builds your values hierarchy — a pre-made decision map for the hard calls.
Values Conflict Scenarios
For each scenario, identify the conflicting values and decide which wins for you:
Scenario 1: Your family wants you at every holiday gathering. You value family deeply — but you also deeply value your own peace and recovery time. When they conflict:
Conflicting values: _______________ vs. _______________
For me, _______________ takes precedence because: ___________________________________
How I'd navigate this: ___________________________________
Scenario 2: You're offered a high-paying job that requires you to compromise on something that matters to you (integrity, creativity, relationships, etc.):
Conflicting values: _______________ vs. _______________
For me, _______________ takes precedence because: ___________________________________
Scenario 3: Your loyalty to a friend conflicts with your commitment to honesty (you know something they need to hear):
Conflicting values: _______________ vs. _______________
For me, _______________ takes precedence because: ___________________________________
PART 4: LIFE AREA ALIGNMENT SCORING
Now let's look at how well your current life aligns with your top 5 values across six key life areas. Rate each area from 1 (very misaligned) to 10 (fully aligned).
| Life Area | Value 1 | Value 2 | Value 3 | Value 4 | Value 5 | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career/Work | ||||||
| Relationships | ||||||
| Health/Body | ||||||
| Personal Growth | ||||||
| Fun/Recreation | ||||||
| Spirituality/Purpose |
The life area most aligned with my values: ___________________________________
The life area least aligned with my values: ___________________________________
The value I'm most compromising in my current life: ___________________________________
What would change if I increased alignment by just 2 points in my lowest-scoring area?
PART 5: VALUES-BASED ACTION PLANNING
The 90-Day Values Alignment Plan
For each of your top 5 values, identify one concrete action you'll take in the next 90 days to better live that value:
Value 1: _______________ Action: ___________________________ By when: _______________
Value 2: _______________ Action: ___________________________ By when: _______________
Value 3: _______________ Action: ___________________________ By when: _______________
Value 4: _______________ Action: ___________________________ By when: _______________
Value 5: _______________ Action: ___________________________ By when: _______________
The Values Promise: I commit to living by these values, making decisions that align with them, and returning to them when I feel lost or uncertain. They are my compass.
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _______________