Values Worksheet: How to Find and Use Your Core Values
A values worksheet helps you name the three to five things that matter most to you, so your goals and decisions line up with them. The method is simple: start with a list of words, circle the ones that feel true, cross out the ones you only chose because you should, narrow to your top three and describe what each looks like on an ordinary day. This guide gives you the list and the steps.
Why values come before goals
People often set a goal, work on it for a few weeks and drop it. One common reason is that the goal did not connect to anything they cared about. A goal borrowed from someone else's expectations has no pull. A goal tied to a value you hold, like freedom or learning, has a reason built in.
That is why coaches often ask about values early. They are not trying to give you values; they are helping you notice the ones you already act on.
A starter list of value words
Read the list below and circle the ten that feel most true for you. Add your own words if one is missing.
| Honesty | Freedom | Family | Growth | Calm |
| Courage | Creativity | Health | Adventure | Kindness |
| Learning | Security | Fairness | Humor | Faith |
| Community | Independence | Loyalty | Mastery | Fun |
| Compassion | Simplicity | Achievement | Balance | Service |
These are prompts, not a complete or official set. "Faith" may be central to one person and absent for another. Both are fine.
The five steps
- Circle ten. Go on your first reaction, not on what sounds impressive.
- Cross out the shoulds. If you picked "Achievement" because a parent or boss would approve, and it does not feel like yours, cross it out.
- Narrow to five. For each pair of words, ask which you would give up last.
- Narrow to three. This is the hard part, and the useful one. If you cannot decide between two, ask what each protects.
- Write what each looks like in daily life. One concrete sentence per value.
A worked example
Suppose someone ends with Freedom, Care and Learning. For Freedom they write: "I choose how I spend my mornings." That is specific enough to check against a real week, which is the point. A value that stays abstract ("I value freedom") is easy to agree with and hard to use.
Make each value visible
A three-column table keeps it honest:
| My top 3 values | What it looks like in daily life | A moment I lived it |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom | I choose how I spend my mornings | Last Saturday I skipped the plan and walked |
| Care | I check in with one friend each week | Called my sister after her appointment |
| Learning | I try one new thing a month | Took the pottery class |
The third column is often the most revealing. If you cannot think of a recent moment for a value, ask whether it is a value or an aspiration, and whether you want to change that.
Questions to test your list
- When was I most proud of a decision? Which value was behind it?
- When did I feel angry or resentful? Which value might have been crossed?
- Whose approval am I seeking, and does that match any value on my list?
- If my week were recorded, what would an observer say I value?
The gap between the stated list and the observed week is useful information, not a failing.
Using values to make decisions
Once you have three values, use them as a filter:
- For a decision: which option fits more of my values?
- For a goal: which value does this goal serve? If none, is it worth it?
- For a "no": which value am I protecting by saying no?
When two values conflict, such as Freedom against Care, name the conflict out loud. That is usually the real decision.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing aspirational words. If you picked "Adventure" but have not left your town in years, ask whether you want it or like the idea of wanting it. Both answers are valid; they lead to different next steps.
- Mistaking a goal for a value. "Run a marathon" is a goal. The value underneath might be health, challenge or mastery. Name the value and you open more ways to honor it.
- Treating values as rules. A value is a direction, not a checklist. You will not live every value every day, and missing a day is not a failure.
- Doing it once. Values can drift with seasons of life. A short annual check keeps the list honest.
Doing it with someone else
Values are easier to see when someone asks about them. A friend, partner or coach can read your top three and ask what you were doing the last time you felt most like yourself. If you are a coach, this is one of the quickest ways to open a first conversation, and the answers rarely need interpretation. Just listen for the words the person repeats.
Where this fits with other tools
Values pair well with a snapshot of your life as it is now. The wheel of life worksheet shows where you are; values help you decide which areas matter most. Next, the goal setting worksheet guide turns a priority into a plan. If you notice a belief getting in the way, see limiting beliefs examples.
For coaches, values questions are a staple of a first session, and the coaching questions guide has openers you can adapt.
A note: a values exercise is a reflection tool. It does not assess mental health or replace support from a qualified professional.
The worksheet, ready to use
The ReadyCoach Kit includes this exercise as Core Values Finder, worksheet 2 of its 50 coaching worksheets. It has a short how-to, a filled-in example, the 20-word value table above, a three-row table for your top values with columns for daily life and a moment you lived it, then reflection prompts and a next small step. Its companions in the same set include Strengths Spotter and Life Story Highlights, which help you see patterns in what you are good at and what has shaped you. All are editable in Word and Google Docs, with printable PDFs.