5 Steps to Getting Clear on Your Personal Core Values

INSPIRE

Ever feel like there’s a powerful force that shapes your thoughts, actions, and ultimately, your success? If so, you’re right.

What you’re feeling is the tug of your core, the very heart of your life and leadership journey. Identifying and naming those beliefs that are your very own unique compass, guiding choices, influencing decisions, and defining the essence of who you are.

Along your journey, you’ll decide how you define success. And, as a leader, you’ll also be looking at how you can amplify your impact. Self-awareness is key to both of these and understanding the significance of our core values becomes increasingly important.

At the intersection of the pursuit of self-knowledge and the art of inspiring others lies our core values. It’s where our dreams originate and our resiliency and courage are fueled.

So let’s get really clear on that convergence so we can unlock our potential and lead in an authentic, remarkable way.

REFLECT

If you’re familiar at all with defining either personal or team core values, you’ve probably come across some of the popular lists of words that represent them. And, if you’re anything like me, when you reflect on this list, trying to point out those precious few that describe what you hold near and dear, you get overwhelmed.

How can you possibly boil down how you show up in the world in just a few select words?

Because this idea of clarifying my own personal values had been simmering in the background of my mind for quite some time, I was inspired by Whitney Johnson‘s idea. The author of Dare, Dream, Do revealed in this 2 Pages podcast episode that as she was struggling with this process, she started looking to song lyrics and quotes to represent her core values.

Now we’re talkin’.

If you’re up for a thought-provoking journey that will leave you excited to let your genius unfold on the daily, here’s are five steps to help you identify your own core values.

1. Think through times in your life when you felt especially proud of your impact and were aligned from the inside out.
2. Note the attributes of these events, both how you showed up and how your natural gifts were highlighted.
3. Reflect on the feedback you’ve received from those in your personal and professional life. What are the characteristics others admire in you? How do those align with the moments you identified?
4. Once you’ve begun creating this highlight reel of your authentic, amazing self, start curating quotes that describe these values that are essential to who you are.
5. Reflect on those, affirm yourself with them, and then clarify and articulate them.

After going through this process myself, below are the six core values I’ve identified that are important to me, my unique gifts, and how I serve others.

I’ll be elaborating on each one – why I chose them and how I’ve seen them show up along my journey – and will link those reflections here.

🤩 BELIEVE  ❤️ LOVE   🤓 GENIUS   😂 LAUGH   🤔 CURIOSITY  💪 COURAGE

AMPLIFY

What do you once you’ve identified your core values? You can begin iterating on them and using them to amplify your impact.

🤔 How will you live each of them out?
🤔 How will you remind yourself of them, affirming your genius and adding layers of meaning?
🤔 How will you seek out opportunities through the lens of your values?

As you make your way along life’s journey, you’ll be able to add facets of perspective and contexts and celebrate those moments when you’re able to practice and solidify them.

What are your core values? How do you use them to amplify your leadership and fill your life with purpose? Together we are brilliant, so I’d love to connect! Share this post and tag me (@me1odystacy) or feel free to start a conversation by commenting below.

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