Understanding Personal Values
Personal values are the core principles that shape our beliefs about what is meaningful, good and important in life. They serve as our moral compass, guiding our decisions and influencing how we conduct ourselves. Whether interacting with others or reflecting alone, our values show up in our personality and behaviour.
Most personal values are formed unconsciously during childhood, shaped by our surroundings and early experiences. However, not all values stem from these influences — some come from a conscious rejection of negative early experiences, as individuals choose to build a different path forward.
Values such as love, honesty, kindness and integrity are examples of moral ideals that can shape priorities and drive behaviour. Knowing our values helps us better understand ourselves, enabling more intentional decisions aligned with our principles.
Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.
One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.
I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.
You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.
Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.
You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address)
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program.
Steps to Define and Embrace Your Core Values
1. Practice Awareness in Daily Actions
Each day, we encounter situations that require a response, whether through words or actions. Instead of reacting instinctively, pause and consider your response carefully. Using intellect and judgment rather than raw emotion allows you to act in alignment with your values, fostering thoughtful and consistent behaviour.
Trusting “gut feelings” alone can be unreliable, as they’re often fuelled by immediate emotions. In contrast, values are shaped through deliberate thought and reasoning, representing a higher level of self-guidance.
2. Identify Your Motivations
Understanding why you do certain things can help clarify your values. For example, is your motivation to be honest rooted in childhood lessons or a sense of personal fulfillment? Reflecting on the reasons behind your actions strengthens your values and brings them to the forefront, providing a clearer understanding of what truly matters to you.
3. Train Your Conscience
Feelings of guilt are signs of a sensitive conscience, urging us to correct mistakes. Listen to these signals — they help reinforce positive traits and remind us to act in ways that reflect our values. Over time, a well-trained conscience supports the development of character and moral strength.
4. Consider the Consequences of Your Actions
Defining values involves learning to identify choices and understanding their potential outcomes. When faced with options — such as being honest versus dishonest — consider the advantages of taking the high road and the consequences of doing otherwise. Values are built not just by knowing right from wrong but by acting in alignment with your understanding.
5. Reflect on Past Experiences
Reflecting on past mistakes offers valuable life lessons, highlighting areas for growth. For example, a youthful experience of missing curfew may have led to consequences at home, just as tardiness as an adult can impact job performance. Learning from these moments encourages us to adopt values like punctuality, respect and accountability, helping us to grow and improve.
Why Defining Your Values Matters
In a world where social values can seem to shift over time, having clearly defined personal values provides a stable foundation. While societal trends may change, strong personal values remain steadfast, helping you stay grounded and authentic.
Your values represent your commitment to yourself, supporting both personal growth and resilience. By staying true to principles like honesty, courage and resilience, you foster a character that can adapt without sacrificing core beliefs. Embracing well-defined values helps you build a life of integrity, purpose, and fulfillment.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)
P.P.P.S. You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address)
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
P.P.P.P.S. If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program.
Photo by Patrick Langwallner on Unsplash
