Examples of personal values

When we consider big topics like who we are and what we want to accomplish in life, we

frequently consider personality traits and ambitions. We try to figure out whether we're an

introvert or an extrovert, if we're amiable or not, and how many of our New Year's

resolutions we have completed.

We rarely consider our moral standards and how they shape our personalities and lives.

But what if I told you that our personal values existed long before goal-setting, Myers-Briggs

personality testing, and self-awareness were popular methods for figuring out what makes

us tick.

So, let us dig further and get a better understanding of personal values.
What are personal values?
Personal values are an element of the moral code that governs our behaviors and determines

our identity. They are the things that we value, the things that affect our well-being and

happiness.

Thinking in terms of your personality and habits is the simplest approach to express what

personal values are. Your values eventually get integrated into your personality and become

a part of you. Your decision-making, objectives, and connections with loved ones are all

influenced by your own values.

Personal values can be learned from others or developed on your own through personal

development. Children often adopt most of their values from their family members, but as

they grow older, they begin to form their own value systems.

Over time, people's personal values tend to change. What you valued most in high school is

likely to be different than what you value most in retirement. And, because your values

evolve over time as a result of your experiences, each person's personal values are unique to

their journey.

Examples of personal values

Here's a good place to start when trying to figure out what your personal values are. You

may notice that something crucial to you isn't on this list, and that's just great. Use this list to

figure out what your top priorities are.

 Achievement  Creativity

 Accountability  Curiosity

 Authenticity  Determination

 Autonomy  Empathy

 Boldness  Faith

 Balance  Fame

 Challenge  Family

 Community  Forgiveness

 Compassion  Harmony

 Courage  Health
  Independence

 Influence  Productivity

 Innovation  Risk-taking

 Justice  Security

 Kindness  Service

 Knowledge  Stability

 Leadership  Trust

 Love  Vitality

 Logic  Wealth

 Optimism  Wisdom

 Partnership

This is not an exhaustive list. I am sure you can come up with a few more. The goal is to

create your own list based on your own experiences and personality, rather than selecting

items from a list. So, take these as examples of personal values, but do not let them limit you.

Allow your imagination to run wild!

When you are done thinking, you might have a half-dozen values or a long list of dozens. If

you're in the second camp, try to condense the list to a manageable number—perhaps five

values that are most important to you. If you're having trouble, try giving each one a score

and then sorting the list.

How to find your personal values

Here is a guide to help you identify personal values that resonate with you:

i. Research the different types of personal values: Review lists of personal values

available online and shortlist the ones that align with your personality. During this

stage, concentrate on learning as many personal values as possible.

ii. Consider where you are and who you know: Your previous life experiences have

influenced your personal values in some way. Some of your life decisions were most

likely influenced by your values. Consider the instances when you triumphed
 against adversity, excelled, and felt the most fulfilled. Look for the values that led

you to where you are now.

Looking at other people's lives can help you realize what is important to you, just as

looking at your own life can. Who do you aspire to be like? What are the values that

they uphold that are important to you?

iii. Identify your goals: Consider your professional and personal goals and use this to

guide you in selecting values that will help you achieve your aspirations.

iv. Select the values that you resonate with: It is easy to become overwhelmed by a

long list of values. There is also a tendency to want to prioritize everything.

Choosing ten to fifteen of the most significant values will help you to be focused.

v. Bucket values that complement each other: You may see patterns after you've

chosen your top personal values. Maybe you value art, creativity and craftsmanship.

All of these can be combined together as a single high-priority value. By grouping

your values, you'll be able to determine which ones are most essential to you.

vi. Order them by priority: It is important to rank your values in order of priority. It is

difficult to focus on all values at the same time. Ranking them will help you to focus

on values with the highest priority.

Benefits of knowing your personal values

Being aware of your personal values helps you to be more intentional. Listed below is a list

of some of the benefits that come from living in accordance with your values.

 More reliability
Taking action based on your values allows you to live a more honest life. Workmates will

most likely count on you if you follow through with commitments that align with your

personal values.

 Increased self-confidence

Making decisions that are in line with your principles can boost your confidence. You may

be confident that you're on the appropriate track for where you are now and where you

want to go.

You will not be easily affected by other people’s opinions when you know what you value

as an individual. This will naturally boost your self-confidence.

 Better decision making abilities

Decision- making is easier when you have enough data. Being aware of your personal

values when you want to make a decision can be of great use. You can use your values as a

basis for the decisions you want to make and this will in turn make you a fast decision

maker.

Emotions often get in the way of making good decisions, but if you ask yourself, "What

would someone who values X do in this situation?" you might be able to make a more

rational, less emotionally-affected decision.

 Better reaction to difficult situations

Values are principles that guide one's actions. They can assist you in behaving in a way that

is consistent with who you wish to be at your core. People frequently respond fast in tough

situations, and they do not always take the time to think about what they are doing before

they do it. You can also use your values to reflect on situations, such as deciding whether or

not you need to apologize.

 Guide you in choosing the right career

We all know that every job choice has its advantages and disadvantages. You may be sure

you have chosen the appropriate career path if you know what matters most to you. A

work-at-home job may not be a suitable fit for you if you value connection, interaction, and

friendship, for example. A traveling sales job, on the other hand, can be ideal for you if you
value travel, money, and conversation. Knowing your values can sometimes even help you

decide if a promotion is the right option for you. Who knew declining a promotion might be

beneficial?

Personal values in the professional world

At this stage you now know what personal values are, their importance and how to identify

your own. In the professional world, we have what we call a ‘Personal Values Statement’.

A personal purpose statement is a summary that describes what you aim to achieve in life. It

gives you guidance on how to achieve your goals... because it reflects who you are, your

ambitions, and your underlying values. A personal value statement can range in length from

one sentence to a number of sentences.

Examples of a Personal Values Statement

Some of these examples can be universal. Feel free to change a word or two to meet your

needs. "To provide legal services...," for example, might be changed to, "to provide social

services, educational services, or healthcare services." Below is a list of personal values

statement examples:

1. To encourage and motivate others to live a life of mental and physical well-being, as

well as peace and contentment.

2. I am committed to advocating for children and providing them with the resources

they require for a healthy and prosperous present and future.

3. To improve the world's quality of life by bringing more convenient and functional

technologies to it.

4. To offer joy to the world through inspiring music and poetry.

5. I want to teach others the self-love and confidence that allows them to achieve their

goals and realize their ambitions.

6. To play a key role in fostering a company culture that values all employees and

encourages them to see their time with the company as an investment in themselves,

their families, and their future.

7. To use my culinary skills to provide healthful and flavourful food options for

families and individuals.

 8. To design communication devices that allow people to spend more quality time with

their loved ones. I would like to create devices that promote a better work-life

balance.

9. To gain knowledge needed to teach others how to become financially self-sufficient

and to empower them with that knowledge.

10. To educate children on nutrition, the short and long-term benefits of leading a

healthy lifestyle, and how to begin and sustain one.

Final thoughts on Personal Values

This article was written to motivate you to pursue your goals in life. These suggestions are

intended to give you an idea of how to discover your personal values and in turn draft your

personal values statement.

Do not be worried if you fail to find values that align with who you are since the list of

values in this article is not exhaustive. It is also fine if you feel you want to express your

personal values in more than one sentence. You are defining yourself and your journey on

this planet. You have a unique reason for existing, and you can have more than one!

Nicole Chimwamafuku is Finance, Strategy and Performance Management

Consultant at Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, a business
management and human resources consulting firm.
Phone: +263 242 481946-48/481950
Mobile: +263 782 415 973
Email: nicole@ipcconsultants.com