The "Values" Exercise to Make Easy Life Decisions

Jan 24

Happy Monday!

Yesterday I helped lead our membership accountability group call where we did a Values Exercise...sounds semi boring but it CAN BE life changing and here's why.

Knowing your values helps you make ALL decisions in your life..the big ones and the small ones. It helps you ask yourself, "Does this choice align with my values?" and if the answers no, then theres your answer and vice versa. It's like your guide; your North compass. It helps you live by your own standards and not off what everyone tells you you should be doing/choosing or what the world says to do. It helps you live in alignment!

It's simple and effective. I write my 5 values in my Passion Planner so I continue to see them.

Here's what you want to do:
1. List out 10 value words that you feel drawn to. You can use this guided list HERE or create your own words. There is no real right or wrong here. Maybe a few words like a mini sentence make more sense to you. Do what works.

2. Then, circle your top 5. I find sometimes I have a couple words that are super similar so I'd just narrow it down to one of them. Five seems to be the lucky number so you aren't overwhelmed or underwhelmed;)

3. Then, rate each value from 1-10 with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. This brings your clarity. It's a mini audit of where you currently stand. Don't worry what the number is. From there you want to bring ACTION to any low numbers.
Example: Let's say I pick growth as my value and I break it down to "personal growth." Let's say, though, I'm at a 3 and I want to be like a 9 or 10! So I'd make a list of all the things that help bring me growth like: reading self help books, listening to uplifting podcasts that might teach me something, growing in my faith by listening to an online sermon or doing my daily devotional, etc. Then I'd slot in how to make each of those happen. So may I go to the library every month and pick 2 books to read. I put that time on my calendar and so on. You get the point:)

Let me know if you've done this before and what you think! Don't forget to share this with a friend who you think would love this!