What Are Core Values? How to Find Yours and Live with Clarity

Do you know what your core values are?

Most people don’t think about them day to day… but they can actually be a powerful compass — helping you find direction, build deeper connections, and create a more fulfilling life.

Because when you’re not sure what your values are, it’s easy to feel a little lost, disconnected, or unsure of yourself. And over time, that feeling doesn’t just disappear — it can build into stress, anxiety, or even burnout.

When your life doesn’t reflect what really matters to you, something will always feel off.

Core values are the deep-down beliefs that shape your choices, influence how you show up, and define what a meaningful life actually looks like for you.

So if you’ve been craving more clarity and less chaos, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about how to uncover your core values — and actually start living by them.

What Are Core Values? How to Find Yours and Live with Clarity

What Are Core Values?

Core values are the things that matter most to you — the stuff that just feels right deep down, like a gut feeling you can’t ignore.

They’re your non-negotiable beliefs that guide how you act, how you treat yourself and others, and the way you make decisions.

They’re not about who you’re supposed to be, or even who you want to be (like picking out your summer outfits based on Pinterest — sorry, not that kind of post today! Though I do love a cute outfit, haha).

Core values are about who you really are underneath all the pressure, comparisons, and outside expectations. Think honesty, responsibility, discipline, authenticity, freedom, or compassion.

Download my CORE VALUE LIST – PDF (200+ examples!) to help you get started.

List of core values examples: 200+ of them!

Why Core Values Matter (More Than You Think)

When you’re clear on your values:

• Your decisions feel less stressful.
• Your goals feel grounded and aligned.
• You attract relationships that respect your boundaries.
• You trust yourself more.
• You begin to feel more at peace — because you’re living by what actually matters.

Here’s an example:

You get offered a high-paying job at a big, well-known company. On paper, it’s perfect. But once you start, it just feels… off.

The vibe is competitive, you’re working 60+ hours a week, and you barely see your family. You’re exhausted and unmotivated, even though everyone says, “Wow, you’re so lucky!”

The problem? Misaligned values.

If your values are freedom, family, and well-being — but your job only values prestige and productivity — of course you’ll feel disconnected.

Flip the script: You take a job that pays a little less but offers flexible hours, a supportive team, and time for yourself. Suddenly, you feel energized and like yourself again.

That’s the power of living in line with your core values.

How Many Core Values Should You Have?

Aim for 5–7 values. Not 27. Not 52. Just a handful that matter most to you.

Because let’s be real: if everything is a core value, then nothing really is. Keeping it short makes it easier to actually live by them.

How to Choose Your Core Values

You don’t need to take a quiz or read a stack of self-help books. The answers are already inside you (cheesy but true).

Start with a core values list (like the one in the PDF above). Notice which ones instantly stand out.

Pay attention to memories or moments that pop up:

• That time you stood up for yourself → courage
• Owning up to a mistake → integrity
• A moment you felt proud or crushed → authenticity, vulnerability

Those moments stand out for a reason — they’re clues to your values.

Journal Prompts to Discover Your Core Values

Not vibing with lists? Try reflecting with these questions instead:

1. When was I most proud of myself — and why?

2. When did I feel deeply uncomfortable or out of alignment?

3. What made that moment feel so right (or so wrong)?

4. What decision felt 100% right — even if others didn’t get it?

5. What have I always stood up for — even when it was hard?

6. When did I feel most energized and alive?

7. When did I feel small, stuck, or resentful — and what was missing?

Tip: Start a Core Values Journal. At the end of each day, reflect:

1. “What values did I live by today?”

2. “Where did I respect — or ignore — what matters most?”

3. “What moments made me feel most like myself?”

Over time, you’ll start to see patterns — and clarity.

Not sure what you’re feeling? Same sometimes. Here are 336 journaling prompts for Self-Reflection to help you figure it out.

Define What Each Core Value Means to YOU

This is where most people get stuck. They pick their values but don’t define them.

Example: Freedom.

• To one person, it means working remotely and traveling.
• To another, it means financial independence.
• To someone else, it means not being emotionally controlled by others.

Same word — different meaning. Define what your top 5 values actually mean in your life.

Aligning Your Core Values with Daily Life

Knowing your values is one thing. Aligning your core values with how you actually live is another. Here’s how:

✦ Daily Habits: If you value well-being, maybe stop skipping sleep for hustle culture. (Wild concept, I know. 😂)

✦ Decisions: Before saying yes, ask: “Does this align with my values?” If not, it’s probably a no (or at least, not right now).

✦ Relationships: Notice who feels like sunshine — and who drains your soul. Anyone constantly pushing you to bend your values? That’s a red flag.

When your habits, choices, and relationships reflect your values, life feels more like yours.

If slow living is one of your values — taking things at your own pace, ditching the hustle culture, and choosing peace over panic — here’s how I keep it real and stay true to that lifestyle every day. ➔ How I Embrace a Slow Living Lifestyle in 6 Simple Steps

Revisit & Adjust Over Time

Core values aren’t set in stone. They evolve as you grow.

Ask yourself regularly: “Is this still true for me?”

Because growth isn’t just allowed — it’s expected. The more honest you are with yourself, the more peaceful and aligned your life feels.

Living by your core values isn’t about perfection. It’s about knowing what matters, trusting yourself, and checking in when life feels off.

✨ Bookmark this post as a reminder: Your core values are your anchor — always ready to guide you back.