Goals vs Values: A Quiz

 Goals: what I’m aiming to get, have, complete,

achieve, own.
 Values: how I want to behave now and on an
ongoing basis; the qualities I desire bring to my
actions now and an on ongoing basis

© Russ Harris 2017 www.TheHappinessTrap.com

Quiz
In the pages that follow, which are goals, and
which are values?
The questions are on one page, and the
answers on the next one.

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Which Are Goals And Which Are
Values?
 Nurturing and caring for my body
 Lose 10 kg (22 pounds) in weight
 Get a great job
 Being helpful, friendly and responsible

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Answers
 Nurturing and caring for my body => VALUE
 Lose 10 kg => GOAL
 Note: we can live the values of nurturing and
caring for our body even if we are terminally
ill and can never achieve the goal of good
health
 Get a great job => GOAL
 Being helpful, friendly and responsible =>
VALUE
 Note: we can live the values of being helpful,
friendly and responsible even if our job
sucks, or we are unemployed
© Russ Harris 2017 www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Which Are Goals And Which Are
Values?
 Get good grades
 Curiosity, learning, persistence
 Buy a house
 Being supportive, protective, caring for my
family

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Answers
 Get good grades => GOAL
 Curiosity, learning, persistence => VALUE
 Buy a house => GOAL
 Being supportive, protective, caring for my
family => VALUE
 Note: I can live the value of being
supportive, protective, caring towards my
family in many ways, even if I don’t have a
house

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Which Are Goals And Which Are
Values?
 Being sensual and intimate
 Have an orgasm
 Have children
 Being caring, kind, loving

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Answers
 Being sensual and intimate=> VALUE
 Have an orgasm=> GOAL
 Note: suppose I have a partner, and one or both of
us have sexual problems such as erectile
dysfunction (impotence) or anorgasmia (inability to
orgasm); there are still many ways I can live the
values of intimacy and sensuality. And if I don’t
have a partner, I can live the values of sensuality
and intimacy with myself.
 Have children=> GOAL
 Being caring, kind, loving=> VALUE
 Note: I can live the values of being caring, kind,
loving even if I never achieve the goal of having
children.
© Russ Harris 2017 www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Which Are Goals And Which Are
Values?
 Being creative
 Write a book
 Win the match
 Playing enthusiastically, fairly, skillfully

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Answers
 Being creative => VALUE
 Write a book => GOAL
 Win the match => GOAL
 Play enthusiastically, fairly, skillfully => VALUE
 Note: I can live the values of playing
enthusiastically, fairly, skillfully even if I am no
longer physically able to play sports; there are
numerous non-sporting activities in which to
live these values.

© Russ Harris 2017 www.TheHappinessTrap.com

Trickier: Goals or Values?
 Be respected
 Be respectful
 Be loved
 Be loving

© Russ Harris 2017

www.TheHappinessTrap.com
Answers
 Be respected=> GOAL
 Be respectful=> VALUE
 Be loved=> GOAL
 Be loving=> VALUE
Most of us want to be loved and respected by others.
These are, for most of us, important goals. They aren’t
values, though. Remember, a goal is what I want to get; a
value is how I want to behave.
Note: the more I live the values of being respectful and
loving towards myself and others, the more likely I am to
achieve the goal of being loved and respected by others
(but there are no guarantees).
© Russ Harris 2017 www.TheHappinessTrap.com