What Are Core Values and Why Do They Matter?

Let's cut through the corporate-speak for a moment. What are core values, really?

Think of them as your fundamental beliefs , the deeply held principles that quietly run the show in your life. They’re your internal compass, your personal guide for making decisions, big and small. They're what you stand for, even when nobody's looking.

Your Personal Compass: What Are Core Values?

Imagine being dropped in the middle of a dense, unfamiliar forest without a map or compass. You’d probably just stumble around, reacting to whatever was right in front of you, but with no real direction. Honestly, that’s what life can feel like when you haven't identified your core values. They are your personal true north.

These values aren't just fluffy, inspirational words you'd see on a motivational poster. They are the invisible forces that shape your choices every single day, influencing everything from the career you pursue to the friends you make. Understanding them is the first real step toward a life that feels authentic. Like a compass guiding a ship through choppy waters, your values keep you on course, helping you navigate the messy business of discovering your life's purpose.

The Blueprint of Your Identity

You can think of your values as the architectural blueprint for your identity. They're built from the beliefs and ideals you cherish most. These might be principles like:

• Integrity: • A rock-solid commitment to honesty and strong moral principles.

• Compassion: • A genuine drive to show empathy and care for others.

• Growth: • A constant desire for learning and becoming a better version of yourself.

Here's the interesting part: these concepts aren't one-size-fits-all. What one person holds sacred, another might not. The World Values Survey, for instance, shows just how much our environments shape what we prioritize. In some countries, trust in institutions soars above 60% , while in others, it plummets below 20% . It’s a fascinating look at how our culture, politics, and personal experiences forge our beliefs.

Your core values are the silent arbiters of your life. When you face a tough decision, they are the quiet voice telling you which path aligns with your authentic self.

These principles also form the bedrock of our relationships. They are absolutely fundamental to how we build trust and connect with people on a meaningful level. If you're curious about how our inner worlds shape our connections, our guide on Enneagram types and relationships is a great place to start.

Ultimately, by defining what you truly value, you give yourself a powerful tool for building a life that feels genuinely yours .

Why Your Values Are Your Secret Superpower

Let's be honest, we all wish we had a superpower. While you might not be leaping tall buildings, your core values give you something just as potent: the ability to make tough decisions with incredible clarity and build a life that feels genuinely yours .

Think of your values as your internal compass. When you’re clear on what your core values are , you stop getting tossed around by the whims of life and start steering the ship yourself.

That tricky career move? That relationship that just feels… off? Your values slice through the confusion like a hot knife through butter, pointing you toward what truly fits. This isn't just about warm fuzzies; it has real-world impact. A McKinsey survey revealed that a whopping 70% of employees said their sense of purpose is defined by their work.

When your work aligns with your values, your daily grind transforms into a mission you actually believe in.

Forging Real Connections

Your values are also the secret sauce for building solid relationships, both in your personal life and at the office. When you consistently live by your principles—whether that’s honesty, compassion, or accountability—people know what you're about. They know they can count on you.

This kind of consistency builds trust, and trust is the bedrock of any meaningful connection.

Imagine a team where everyone shares a commitment to respect and getting things done right. The usual office politics and second-guessing just fade away. What's left is an environment where people feel safe to be creative, speak their minds, and do their best work. This is the magic formula for high-performing teams.

• Tighter Teamwork: • Shared values get everyone pulling in the same direction, making collaboration feel effortless.

• Clearer Communication: • When respect is a given, conversations are more honest and productive.

• Happier People: • A great culture that reflects positive values keeps people engaged and excited to be there.

When your professional life is a reflection of your personal principles, work stops feeling like a chore. It becomes a meaningful part of who you are, paving the way for a career that’s truly fulfilling.

Your Best Defense Against Burnout

Finally, living by your values is your ultimate shield against stress and burnout. Think about it: constantly going against what you believe in creates an internal battle. That friction, known as cognitive dissonance, is mentally and emotionally draining. It’s a fast track to exhaustion.

But when your choices honor your values, you're reinforcing who you are at your core. Every value-aligned decision is a small deposit into your self-worth bank account.

This inner strength becomes your source of resilience. When you hit a roadblock, you can stand firm, knowing you acted with integrity. Your values protect your well-being, giving you the power to face any storm without losing yourself in the process.

A Practical Guide to Uncovering Your Core Values

Alright, let's get our hands dirty. Knowing what core values are is one thing, but actually digging up your own? That's a whole different adventure. This isn't about plucking a few nice-sounding words from a long list. It's more like an archaeological dig into your own life, brushing away the dust to find what's authentically you .

This journey is deeply personal. Framing this process through the lens of personalized learning pathways can make the self-discovery feel more structured and impactful. Let’s kick things off with a few exercises to get the gears turning.

Revisit Your Peak Experiences

Close your eyes and think back to a time you felt completely on fire—truly alive and buzzing with fulfillment. It could be a massive accomplishment, like crossing a finish line, or a quiet, profound moment, like a conversation that changed everything. A time when you just thought, "Yes. This is what it's all about."

Got that memory? Great. Now, let’s pick it apart a bit:

• What was I doing?

• Who was I with, if anyone?

• What specific part of that experience made me feel so incredible?

• Which of my own strengths was I flexing?

The emotions and actions tied to these peak moments are like bright, flashing arrows pointing straight to your values. If your highlight reel features you leading a team through a tough project, you might deeply value leadership , collaboration , or achievement .

Analyze What Makes You Righteously Angry

Now, for the flip side. What makes your blood boil? I’m not talking about stubbing your toe or getting stuck in traffic. I mean the stuff that feels fundamentally wrong on a gut level—seeing someone steal credit for a colleague's work, witnessing cruelty, or dealing with blatant dishonesty.

These flashes of frustration are goldmines of information. Your anger is often just a fierce, protective reaction to one of your core values being stomped on.

If injustice makes you see red, fairness is probably a core value. If flaky people and broken promises drive you nuts, you almost certainly value dependability and integrity . Your outrage is a compass, and it's pointing directly at what you stand for.

This process of looking at the highs and lows is a powerful way to triangulate what truly matters.

Identify Who You Admire

Quick—name two or three people you genuinely look up to. They could be friends, family, historical figures, or even a character from a book. Don't overthink it, just go with your gut.

Now, next to each name, write down the exact qualities you admire in them.

The traits we admire in others are often a reflection of the values we want to embody ourselves. They are a mirror showing us the best version of who we aspire to be.

To help get your own brainstorming started, here are some examples of core values, grouped by common themes.

Categorized List of Example Core Values

Use this table to spark ideas and brainstorm your own values. These examples are grouped by theme to help you explore different areas of life.

After working through these exercises and maybe pulling some inspiration from the list above, you should have a messy collection of words and ideas. Perfect. The next step is to sift through them, group similar concepts, and spot the recurring themes.

From that bigger list, challenge yourself to narrow it down to your top 3-5 core values . This final step is crucial. It forces you to get crystal clear on what's truly non-negotiable for you, creating a powerful, practical guide for navigating just about everything life throws your way.

Turning Your Values Into Real-Life Action

Alright, so you’ve pinpointed your core values. That’s fantastic! It’s like drawing a detailed map of the life you actually want to live. But here's the thing about maps—they don't do you much good if you just stare at them from your couch.

The real magic happens when you fold up that map, stick it in your back pocket, and start walking. This is where you bridge the gap between knowing your values and truly living them, day in and day out.

Think of your values as a personal filter for life. Every single decision—from the massive, life-altering ones to the tiny, everyday choices—gets poured through it. Does that tempting job offer actually align with your value of creativity ? Does this friendship genuinely support your need for authenticity ? Suddenly, tough calls don't seem so murky anymore. You’re no longer just reacting to whatever life throws at you; you're building a life around what truly lights you up.

From Vague Idea to Daily Practice

So, how do you turn a lofty idea like "compassion" or "growth" into something you do ? It's way less complicated than it sounds. The trick is to connect each value to a specific, tangible action.

Let's say one of your core values is compassion . What does that actually look like on a random Tuesday afternoon? Maybe it's putting your phone down and really listening when a colleague is venting. No interruptions, just your full attention. Or if you value growth , perhaps it means spending 30 minutes learning a new skill instead of mindlessly scrolling through your feed.

This is all about getting to know yourself and what makes you tick. Connecting your values to your natural talents is a game-changer, and exploring “ How to Find Your Strengths and Unlock Your Potential ” is a great way to start that process.

The Before-and-After of Value-Driven Decisions

Let's get practical. Imagine one of your top values is environmental responsibility .

• Before: • You might grab a disposable coffee cup without thinking, buy plastic water bottles, and toss leftovers. It's not malicious; it's just... mindless.

• After: • You start bringing a reusable mug to the coffee shop. You get yourself a cool water bottle you love using. You look into composting.

See the shift? Your value became a lens for your habits. Each small, deliberate choice reinforces who you want to be, creating this amazing feeling of wholeness and integrity. If you want to see just how deep this can go, check out these essential zero-waste lifestyle tips for some serious inspiration.

Your core values are not meant to be framed on a wall. They are meant to be the tools you use to build your life, decision by decision.

Setting Goals That Actually Matter

Here’s where your values become a superpower: goal setting. Instead of chasing random achievements that you think you should want, you can set goals that are deeply and personally meaningful. This transforms goal-setting from a chore into a genuinely exciting pursuit.

Try this simple framework:

By using this approach, you're not just vaguely hoping to be more community-minded. You're creating a concrete, actionable plan to become that person. This is how your principles stop being a passive list and start being the active, powerful force that shapes your entire life.

How Core Values Evolve in a Changing World

Ever feel like your core values are set in stone? It’s a common misconception. The truth is, while they form the bedrock of who you are, they're not static monuments. Think of them as a living, breathing part of you—your personal constitution, designed to be amended as you navigate the beautiful mess of life.

Life has a funny way of shaking things up, and major events are often the moments our values get a tune-up. That big career change, the wild ride of becoming a parent, or even packing up and moving to a new country, can completely recalibrate your internal compass. The adventure you prized in your twenties might gracefully step aside for security when you have a family to think about. That’s not being inconsistent; that’s growth. It's you, adapting.

Shifting Tides on a Global Scale

This isn’t just a "you" thing, either. It happens on a massive, societal scale. The principles our grandparents lived by might look quite different from the ones driving culture today. We've all witnessed huge shifts in our collective priorities—just look at the rise of environmental consciousness or the recent, much-needed focus on mental health and inclusivity. These are reflections of our shared human story unfolding in real-time.

The data backs this up. Historical info from the World Values Survey (1981-2020) shows that secular-rational values shot up by nearly 40% in Western Europe and North America. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a seismic shift. A 2021 survey found that 54% of people now feel collective wellbeing is more important, a huge jump from 38% pre-pandemic. If you're a data nerd like me, you can dive into more fascinating trends about global value shifts on their website .

Your values are not a fixed destination but a dynamic conversation you have with yourself and the world. Being open to their evolution is a hallmark of true self-awareness.

The Ongoing Conversation with Yourself

Realizing that your values are supposed to evolve is incredibly freeing. It takes off the pressure to have everything figured out for the rest of time. Phew. Instead, it invites you into a lifelong, rewarding dialogue with yourself. As you collect more experiences and (hopefully) a little wisdom, you get to check in and ask, "Does this still feel true for me? Does this value still serve the person I’m becoming?"

This whole process of self-reflection ties deeply into understanding your personality and how you connect with others. In fact, exploring frameworks like Enneagram type compatibility can unlock surprising "aha!" moments about why certain values feel so important to you at different stages of life.

Ultimately, truly understanding what core values are means embracing their fluid nature. They are your North Star, yes, but they're also a mirror reflecting your journey. Letting them adapt is precisely what keeps them powerful, relevant, and authentically yours.

Answering Those Nagging Questions About Core Values

Alright, so you're digging in and doing the work. Awesome! But as you get your hands dirty with all this self-discovery, a few questions are probably starting to bubble up. That's totally normal. Think of this as your personal FAQ, designed to smooth out any wrinkles and tackle those common "But what if...?" moments.

Let's clear the air and get you moving forward with confidence.

So, How Many Core Values Should I Actually Have?

You're not going to like this answer, but there's no perfect number. That said, the sweet spot for most people lands somewhere between 3 and 5 core values .

Why so few? Because you want a laser, not a floodlight. A short, powerful list is something you can actually remember and use in the heat of the moment when making a tough call. Trying to juggle ten or fifteen values is like having ten different people shouting directions at you at once—it's just noise. A handful of truly non-negotiable principles gives you a sharp, reliable filter for life.

What if My Values Clash With My Job or My Family?

This is the big one, isn't it? It’s where the rubber meets the road, and it can feel incredibly stressful when your inner compass points north and your life seems to be pulling you south. When this happens, the first step is to stop thinking in vague terms. Don't just throw your hands up and say, "My job is against my values!" Pinpoint the exact friction.

For example:

• Your Value: • Creativity.

• The Conflict: • Your job is all about following strict, repetitive procedures.

• The Real Question: • Is there • any • wiggle room? Can you find a small corner of your role to inject some creativity, or maybe take on a new project that lets you flex those muscles?

This kind of clash doesn't automatically mean you need to quit your job and move to a yurt (unless you want to!). It often starts with a simple, honest conversation. Can you find a compromise? Is there a middle ground? But if that conflict is deep, constant, and soul-crushing, it might just be the universe giving you a very clear nudge that it's time to explore bigger changes for your own well-being.

How Often Should I Revisit My Values?

Think of your values less like a tattoo and more like a trusted map. It's solid, but you should still pull it out every now and then to make sure you're on the right path. A great rule of thumb is to have a little check-in with your values annually or after any major life event .

What's a major life event? Things like:

• Starting a new career.

• Beginning or ending a major relationship.

• Moving to a new city.

• Becoming a parent.

Life changes us. We learn, we grow, we see things differently. A quick review during these pivotal moments is just a personal recalibration. It’s you, having a friendly chat with yourself, making sure your internal compass is still pointing toward your true north.

Ready to dive deeper into what makes you tick? The journey of understanding your values is a cornerstone of self-awareness. At Enneagram Universe , we provide the tools to help you uncover your core motivations, fears, and desires. Take our free, scientifically validated Enneagram test today to gain profound insights into your personality and start building a more authentic life. Discover your Enneagram type now .