Building a Life of Purpose: Values—What They Are & Why You Need Them
When we talk about living our best lives, the focus often lands on external goals like dream jobs, travels, or personal milestones. Yet, many feel unfulfilled, unsure of which direction to take, or struggle to even start. The truth is, a fulfilling life begins with something deeper—identifying and aligning with your core values. These values not only clarify what truly matters but also provide a clear path forward, empowering intentional decisions and meaningful actions.
What Are Values?
Values are the things that matter most to us—the principles and qualities that are the most important to us that inform and guide how we live our lives. They’re the foundation of who we are, shaping our decisions, relationships, and sense of purpose. For me, some of my core values include freedom, creativity, community, connection, integrity, and service. These have become essential in guiding my actions. Check out my Instagram reel where I share more about my values and how they’ve shaped my life.
Why Is It Important to Identify Your Values?
Identifying your values offers clarity and guidance, steering you toward a meaningful and enriching life. Here’s why they matter:
Values Provide Direction: They act as a compass, helping you make intentional decisions. When you’re unsure of what path to take, your values can guide you.
They Shape Who You Are: Values are not just about who you are today but also about the person you aspire to become. They offer a perspective for growth and evolution.
Enhanced Relationships: Living in alignment with your values deepens your connection to yourself and helps you meet others with authenticity and integrity.
Empowered Connection: Values allow us to connect with something greater than ourselves, whether that’s community, purpose, or a sense of service.
They Influence Actions: When we’re clear on what we value, we naturally begin to act in ways that reflect those priorities. Our decisions, big and small, align with our truest desires.
My Journey with Values
A key piece of creating The Conscious Cabin was identifying my values and recognizing what was missing in my life. I craved freedom to explore and spaciousness to show up fully, creativity to innovate and express, community to connect with like-minded souls, and deep, meaningful connection—both with myself, nature and others. By identifying these values, I was able to plant the seeds for the life I wanted to cultivate. As I made consistent micro actions towards what I loved, it started to take shape overtime to what it is now (tiny steps add up). The cabin is the embodiment of those values: a space to remember what freedom feels like, inspiration, and deeply reconnecting with your most empowered self and nature.
How to Identify Your Values
Values are the starting point for transformation. They shape how we show up in the world and the kind of life we create. Taking the time to uncover your values is a powerful act of self-awareness and intention-setting—one that can change everything.
Identifying your core values starts with self-reflection. Begin with a journaling practice, looking back on your life experiences. Think about moments when life felt meaningful and fulfilling. What values were present during those times? Then, reflect on challenging moments when you felt out of alignment or deeply unsettled. What values might have been compromised? This contrast often brings clarity.
To make this process tangible, write down a list of values that resonate with you. Take time to understand the meaning of each word (look them up if needed) to ensure they truly align with your intentions. On a sheet of paper, create three columns labeled low, medium, and high priority. Categorize each value into one of the columns based on how essential it feels to you. Once done, focus on narrowing the high-priority column down to around five core values, the ones that guide your decisions and actions. Remember, values are not static; they should be revisited regularly as they can evolve with life changes.
Once you’ve identified your core values, use them as a compass. Write them somewhere visible to remind you of what matters most. Let them guide your choices, shape your goals, and influence how you spend your time. By aligning your actions with your values, you call in and create a more intentional life, one rooted in authenticity and purpose.
Learn How to Align Your Actions with Your Values
I’d love to help guide you through the process. Together, we’ll narrow it down to five values that truly resonate with you and use them as a foundation for creating a life aligned with your best self. Whether you’re looking for clarity, direction, or inspiration, this is the perfect place to start.
When we align our determination and actions with our values, we’ll discover that anything is within our reach. As we persevere and ascend the mountain ahead, we rise.