Day 5: Values Alignment

Today, we dive into your core values—the guiding principles that shape your decisions, inspire your actions, and define what truly matters to you. By aligning with your values, you create a roadmap for a life that feels purposeful and fulfilling.

To make this exercise even more meaningful, let’s add a twist: imagine the Ghost of Christmas Future visiting you. It shows you two visions of your life: one where you’ve lived fully aligned with your values, and one where you’ve ignored or compromised them. Which path will you choose?

Reflecting on Values

Start the day by centering yourself. Take a few deep breaths and set this intention:"Today, I uncover the values that guide me and commit to living them fully."

Prompt: Reflect on these questions in your journal:

1. What’s most important to me in life? 

   • Think of moments when you felt truly fulfilled. What values were present?

2. What drives my decisions? 

   • When faced with a tough choice, what principles do I lean on?

3. What frustrates me most? 

   • Often, frustrations highlight values that feel violated or ignored.

4. What do I admire in others? 

   • The qualities we admire often reflect our own core values.

Identifying Your Top Values

Below is a list of 50 values to help spark your reflection. Circle or highlight any that resonate with you:

Achievement	Adventure	Authenticity	Balance
Beauty	Belonging	Collaboration	Commitment
Community	Compassion	Connection	Contribution
Courage	Creativity	Curiosity	Discipline
Empathy	Equality	Excellence	Fairness
Faith	Family	Freedom	Friendship
Fun	Generosity	Gratitude	Growth
Harmony	Health	Honesty	Humility
Humor	Integrity	Joy	Kindness
Learning	Leadership	Love	Loyalty
Optimism	Passion	Patience	Peace
Perseverance	Purpose	Respect	Responsibility
Security	Spirituality	Vulnerability	Wisdom

For other options try:

https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

https://jamesclear.com/core-values

Activity:

• Narrow your choices to 5-10 core values.

• Reflect:

  • Why are these values important to me?

  • How do they show up in my life now?

Values are not things you can point at. They are demonstrated through our actions. For example, we can say we value respect but if we yell at people frequently, what are we truly demonstrating? Or we can say we value family, but when we’re tired do we make time for our spouse or children to talk or connect?

Brene Brown defines integrity as “choosing courage over comfort, and choosing what's right over what's fun, fast, or easy”. She also says that integrity is more than just naming values, but rather living according to them.

So it is important to ask the question, if you didn’t have words to say it, how would others know what you value?

The Ghost of Christmas Future

Take a quiet moment to visualize two futures.

1. Future 1:

   • Imagine a life where you’ve fully honored your core values.

   • What does this life look and feel like?

   • How do you interact with others? What impact have you made?

2. Future 2:

   • Now imagine a life where you’ve ignored or compromised your values.

   • How does this life feel? What’s missing?

Prompt: Write a letter to your future self, describing the life you want to create by staying true to your values.

Living Your Values Today

As the day winds down, reflect on this question:

• What small, intentional actions can I take today to honor my core values?

Affirmation:"I commit to living in alignment with my core values, knowing they guide me toward a future filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment."