Everyone has an underlying reason as to why they do things in their everyday lives, even though the action is inefficient. This is because people consciously or unconsciously do things based on the core values they hold.
Core values are principles and values that we can connect to and have internalized into our lives. These personal core values dictate every action we do, and the satisfaction we obtain from doing said actions. If you want to learn more about core values you may use the core value exercise, core value handout, and the core value worksheet on the list above. But if you want to have some references, you may open and download any of the core value samples, core value examples, and core value PDFs on said list.
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is the highest level of need one can meet in their life. Knowing oneself can help lead you to a satisfying life, which makes knowing one’s core values imperative.
Begin by creating an in-depth journal with most of the actions you have done in a span of one week to a whole month. This will help you take note of certain feelings, contexts, and reasons that may have caused specific actions or reactions.
While creating a journal, you will need to research a comprehensive list of core values. The list will help you label and categorize your actions.
After you are done noting down the actions you have completed in a day, you must list out why you did those actions and what the feeling you had when you made that specific action or decision is. Do this for all the entries listed in your journal.
When you have finished listing down the reasons for your actions, you can now cross-reference them with the list of core values. If the reasoning does not align with a specific core value you may either dig deeper into the reasoning of the action or research more different core values.
Personal values are values that we find important in our lives. These personal values are the values we focus on in our lives and are not central to who we are as individuals. Core values, on the other hand, are the most important values that we hold in our lives, consciously or unconsciously. We do things or actions that align with the core values we hold. If we were to defend or do something that would otherwise compromise our core values, then cognitive dissonance would occur. In conclusion, personal values are values we find important. But we do not fully absorb the personal values in our lives, while core values are absorbed values that we try to put into the forefront of our lives and actions.
Core values are principles and values that we hold very dearly in our lives. These core values dictate all our actions and are the underlying reasons why we do things in character or in a specific way, regardless of efficiency. When our jobs align with our core values, we become satisfied with our job, which is very important if we want to both maintain and prosper in a specific position or job. If cognitive dissonance will occur because the job, position, or company you work for has values that do not align with your core values, then you will find the job or position to be miserable.
Core values are the basic principles that we fully absorb into our lives. These core values shape our self-awareness and the type of person we are. We will consciously or unconsciously blend our everyday actions to align with our core values and principles. We will find more satisfaction when we do actions that align with our core values. Because the satisfaction we experience will motivate our future actions, and the same is true for the opposite.
Core values are important values we hold close to our lives. Often these values are the ones we associate with as a way to identify oneself. In conclusion, knowing and understanding the core values we hold is one of the best ways to gain self-awareness.