Creating Your Own Personal Values List: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
In today’s world, many of us are often bombarded with opinions and ideas from various sources about what to believe or how to behave. With so much noise around us, it’s easy to forget what we stand for, what truly matters to us, or what our personal values are.
Knowing our personal values is crucial because it provides us with a clear picture of what we want, what we don’t want, and why we do what we do. It also helps us make decisions that are more authentic and in line with our true selves and what we truly care about.
This article provides a step-by-step guide to creating your own personal values list, which will serve as a foundation for an authentic and purposeful life.
Step 1: Identify Your Core Beliefs and Assumptions
To begin building your personal values list, start by examining your core beliefs and assumptions. These are the fundamental principles and judgments you hold to be true and form the basis of your worldview.
Some questions you can ask yourself include:
- What do I believe about the world, people, and situations?
- What assumptions do I hold about how things should be?
- What are the core principles I operate by?
Once you have identified your core beliefs and assumptions, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Reflect on Your Past Experiences
Our past experiences help shape who we are today and can provide valuable insights into what we value. Take some time to reflect on your past experiences, both positive and negative, and consider the following questions:
- What experiences have had the biggest impact on me?
- What values did those experiences reinforce or challenge?
- What did I learn about myself and what’s important to me through those experiences?
Step 3: Identify Your Top Priorities
Priorities are the important things in life that we focus our time and energy on. They can be tangible or intangible, such as our health, relationships, career, spirituality, or personal growth.
To identify your top priorities, consider the following questions:
- What areas of my life are most important to me right now?
- What am I willing to sacrifice for those areas?
- What do I want to be remembered for?
Step 4: Determine Your Personal Code of Conduct
A personal code of conduct is a set of guidelines that help you make decisions and navigate the world around you. It’s a set of rules you create for yourself to live by.
To determine your personal code of conduct, ask yourself:
- What qualities do I admire in others?
- What traits do I want to embody?
- What kind of person do I want to be?
Step 5: Write Your Personal Values List
Now that you have completed the previous steps, it’s time to write your personal values list. Your list should include the core beliefs and assumptions you identified in step one, the values that emerged from reflecting on your past experiences in step two, the top priorities you identified in step three, and the personal code of conduct you created in step four.
Your personal values list should be a concise and powerful statement that captures what you stand for and what’s important to you. It should serve as a constant guidepost for your life, reminding you of your purpose, priorities, and principles.
Conclusion
Creating a personal values list is an essential step towards living a purposeful and authentic life. It provides a clear roadmap for how to make decisions, what to prioritize, and how to live in alignment with your true self.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a personal values list that serves as a foundation for your life and helps you live in alignment with your beliefs and principles.
