I Tried Living by My Core Values—Here’s What Changed

Do you ever feel like life is a whirlwind of obligations, pulling you in a dozen different directions until you’re not even sure what’s yours anymore? I’ve been there—running on autopilot, checking off tasks, and wondering if any of it truly mattered.

As a purpose and growth mentor, I eventually realized something big: the difference between feeling scattered and feeling fulfilled comes down to one thing—alignment. When I started aligning my daily choices with my deepest values, life stopped feeling like a treadmill and started feeling like a path with meaning.

This isn’t about perfection or rigid routines. It’s about living in a way that feels authentic, intentional, and deeply your own. Let’s walk through how you can identify, honor, and live by your core values—step by step, with stories from my own journey to make it real.

What Core Values Really Are (And Why They Matter)

Core values aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the inner compass that shapes our decisions, big and small. But here’s the thing: most of us haven’t actually taken the time to define them.

1. Discovering Your Core Values

When I first started digging into my own values, I didn’t even know where to begin. But looking back, the clues were always there.

• Reflecting on peak moments: I thought about times I felt the most alive—teaching a workshop, volunteering, writing in the early morning. What was common? Authenticity, growth, and connection.
• Looking to role models: I admired leaders who stayed true to themselves even under pressure. That told me integrity mattered deeply to me, too.
• Journaling through prompts: I sat with a notebook and simply wrote: “What feels non-negotiable in my life?”

The answers surprised me. They weren’t about achievements—they were about how I wanted to live.

2. Defining Your Value System

Once you name your values, you need to define them in action. Authenticity, for example, wasn’t just a word for me—it meant saying no to projects that didn’t fit, even if they paid well. Connection meant being intentional with friendships, not just texting when I had time.

When you make values concrete, they stop being abstract ideals and start becoming daily guidelines.

How Values Shape Every Decision

The first time I really tested my values was when I faced a tough career choice: take the high-paying job that didn’t excite me, or pursue a challenging path that aligned with my love of growth. Every logical part of me wanted the safe choice. But when I checked against my values, the answer was clear.

1. Living by Values in Practice

Living by values doesn’t mean every decision becomes easy. But it does mean they become clearer. For example:

• If community is your value, you’ll naturally prioritize volunteering or helping neighbors.
• If health is your value, you’ll think twice before saying yes to commitments that burn you out.

For me, choosing growth meant taking the scarier path—and while it wasn’t smooth, it was the one that felt right.

2. Handling Value Conflicts

Sometimes values clash. I once had to choose between financial stability and personal fulfillment. Reflection reminded me that while both mattered, growth was what I needed most at that stage of life. By ranking values situationally, I was able to move forward without regret.

Daily Practices That Keep You Aligned

Values aren’t a one-time discovery—they’re a daily practice. The good news? You don’t need hours of free time to live them out.

1. Mindful Decision-Making

Before saying yes to something, I now pause and ask: Does this align with my values—or am I acting out of guilt or habit? That one pause has saved me countless times from commitments that would have drained me.

Some tricks that help:

• Pause before deciding. A few seconds is enough.
• Visualize the outcome. Does it feel like alignment—or resistance?
• Check your emotions. Excitement often signals alignment; dread signals misalignment.

2. Setting Boundaries

Alignment often means saying no. I used to say yes to everything, terrified of letting people down. But once I realized every “yes” out of obligation was a “no” to my values, it became easier to set boundaries. Protecting your time is protecting your alignment.

Intention: Turning Values Into Action

Intentions are where values meet reality. They’re like a bridge that carries your values into your everyday choices.

1. Crafting Daily Intentions

Here’s a simple routine I’ve leaned on for years:

• Morning check-in: Write down one value you want to live out today.
• Carry it with you: I keep mine in my planner or even on a sticky note.
• Evening review: At the end of the day, ask: Did I live this value today?

On chaotic days, I’ll set the intention to embody patience or presence. Even if everything goes sideways, that one anchor keeps me grounded.

2. Staying Flexible

Some days you’ll nail it, others you’ll fall short. That’s okay. Living by values isn’t about perfection—it’s about practice.

Growth Through Alignment

One of the most beautiful things about values is that they grow with you. Who I was ten years ago is different from who I am today, and so are my values.

1. Embracing Change

When my life shifted—moving cities, changing careers—I noticed my values shift too. That used to scare me, but now I see it as evolution. Your values don’t disappear; they deepen and adapt.

2. The Power of Reflection

I can’t stress enough how journaling has helped me see this evolution. Flipping back through old entries, I can trace the story of how my values have shaped—and reshaped—my choices. It’s like holding a map of who I was and who I’m becoming.

Wiz Daily!

• Morning Check-In: Start your day with a reflection on one of your core values. Consider how you can embody it throughout your day.
• Evening Reflection: End your day by journaling. What choices did you make today that reflected your core values?
• Monthly Values Audit: Schedule a monthly check-in with yourself to review and realign with your core values.
• Value-Based Decision Jar: Write down your core values and place them in a jar. When faced with a decision, pick one out to guide you.
• Gratitude Moments: Recognize and be grateful for moments in the day where you lived in alignment with your values.

Walking Your Path With Confidence

Here’s what I’ve learned: living by your values doesn’t make life easier, but it does make it clearer. Every decision—big or small—becomes less about outside noise and more about your authentic compass.

So pause. Listen. Write it down. Set the intention. Protect your boundaries. And trust that every step you take in alignment brings you closer to a life that feels like yours.

Your values are your north star. Follow them, and you’ll not only find direction—you’ll find peace.