Values Card Sort

Values are not about what you want to achieve or how you think you should be. They're about what genuinely matters to you — how you want to show up, again and again, in the areas of life that are important to you.

This exercise is an opportunity to explore that. There are no right or wrong answers, and no values you're supposed to have. The goal is simply to get curious about what's actually yours.

As you sort, it helps to notice the difference between values that feel chosen and values that feel imposed. Ask yourself:

  • When I imagine living this way, do I feel energized or pressured?

  • If no one would know or judge my choice, would this still matter to me?

  • Does this feel like my own direction, or someone else's expectation?

Some values will feel immediately recognizable. Others might surprise you. Both are worth paying attention to.

Very important
Quite important
Not so important
This exercise is based on Russ Harris (2010), "A Quick Look at Your Values." actmindfully.com.au

Your values snapshot

Values can show up in your life in different ways. You might notice that some of what landed in "very important" are values you're already living; these are your realized values. Others might feel deeply important but not yet reflected in your daily life; these are aspirational values. And some may have shifted or evolved over time; transformed values that tell you something about who you're becoming.

None of these is better than the others. This snapshot is just information — a compass, not a verdict. The question to sit with is: in the areas of life that matter most to you right now, are your actions pointing in these directions?