What truly matters to you? It’s a big question, isn’t it? Yet, answering it can be life-changing.
This is where the values exercise comes in - a simple yet profound tool to uncover the core principles that guide your life. By identifying your values, you create a compass to navigate decisions, relationships, and challenges with clarity and purpose.
What Is a Values Exercise and Why Do It?
The values exercise involves reflecting on what drives and grounds you. You sift through a list of values, choosing the ones that resonate most deeply. Then, you narrow it down to your top two or three core values - the ones that shape how you live, work, and interact with others.
Why do this? Because when you know your values, you understand yourself on a deeper level. It’s easier to make decisions, handle conflicts, and build a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. Values act as a quiet undercurrent, guiding your choices, even when you’re not actively thinking about them. And when life feels off-balance, they become an anchor to return to.
The Sunrise Yoga Story: A Values-Driven Journey
One question I’m often asked is: How did Sunrise Yoga Club grow into such a huge community? The answer always brings me back to my values. Sunrise Yoga Club sits perfectly balanced at the intersection of my three core values: community, inclusion, and love.
When I created the event, I didn’t do it with a master plan or a goal to make it “big.” I simply wanted to create a space where people could feel seen, included, and connected, with accessability & community at its core. Those values were infused into everything - from welcoming everyone regardless of their yoga experience to fostering a sense of belonging on those early beach mornings.
Because it aligned so naturally with my values, it grew organically. People felt the intention behind it, and they wanted to be part of something meaningful. This experience reaffirmed something I’ve come to know deeply: when you live in alignment with your values, you create opportunities for connection, growth, and joy.
Quiet Guidance Beneath the Surface
Every couple of years, I carve out time to revisit my values. This process helps me check in with myself and ensure I’m living in alignment. My core values of community, inclusion, and love have stayed constant, but this year, I realised a new value has emerged: freedom.
Freedom, for me, is about authenticity and choice. It’s about creating space in my life for creativity, connection, and spontaneity. Sitting with this value has added another layer of clarity to how I move through the world.
Often, after doing this exercise, I return to life and forget about the list of values I wrote down. But even when I’m not consciously thinking about them, they’re there, quietly guiding my choices and offering an anchor when I feel lost.
Exploring Your Own Values
Ready to explore your own values? Here’s a simple guide:
Reflect: Start by reviewing a list of values. Brené Brown’s Values Exercise is an excellent resource to begin with.
Choose: Narrow the list down to 10 values, then refine it further to your top 2-3. These should be the ones that resonate most deeply with you.
Journal: Write about how these values show up in your life. Are you living in alignment with them? Where might there be room for growth? Some reflection excerices from Brene Brown can be really helpful.
Revisit: Check back in every now and then. Values can evolve as your life and priorities shift.
Understanding Through Shared Values
This process isn’t just valuable for individuals, it’s incredibly insightful when done with family, friends, or colleagues. Understanding someone else’s values can provide clarity on why they make certain choices or approach life differently. In moments of conflict or misunderstanding, knowing each other’s core values can foster empathy and deeper connection.
Explore More on Values
If you’re curious to learn more about values and how they shape our lives, I highly recommend listening to Brené Brown’s podcast episode on values. She dives deeply into why they matter and how they can anchor us through life’s ups and downs. You can find it here.
An Invitation
Your values are uniquely yours, an intimate map of what makes you, you.
By identifying and aligning with them, you create a foundation for a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. Whether you’re navigating a new chapter, a tough decision, or simply seeking clarity, your values are always there to guide you.
Why not take a moment this week to reflect on your values? You might be surprised by the insights and direction they offer.
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