The Top 9 Most Important Values in Life

When beginning a journey of growth, you may make plans to become a better person, but to do this, you need to understand what a better person is. How you define 'better' depends entirely on your own personal values in life and how you identify those values in yourself.

In this article, we're going to explore the ways that our core values align with our determination to live a meaningful life and how they affect our personal development. Below, we'll discuss what personal values are, why having core values is important, and how you can use core values in your own life to encourage personal development, good mental health and well being, and improve your self-awareness.

If you want to learn more about the important values that can help you to live a good life, then this is the article for you. Keep reading to find out more.

What are life values? Core values, personal values, etc.

So, what are personal values?

Personal values, core values, life values, are all values that you choose to live by and that inform your daily life in ways you don't even see. Core values are oftentimes inherited from friends and family, society, and those around you and you may not think about them until you have to.

Core values are what you believe to be important in a person. The personal values you set yourself are the standard to which you hold yourself and the standard to which you need to match to be a 'good' person.

Identifying core values can help you to understand exactly what it is you value in yourself and in other people, helping you to live a meaningful life by ensuring your actions align with your values.

Why is having personal core values important?

But what is so special about having personal values? Why do we need them?

Well, having personal values can help to guide you in the right direction as you grow as a person. They can help you to begin living with more integrity helping you on your path to self-discovery and allow you to understand how you can feel better in yourself, through good mental health and positive emotions.

Having core values ensures you have something to live by and a values list that guides you in the right direction. Your personal values matter as you decide what kind of life you wish to lead.

Top 9 core value ideas

Now that we understand what core values are and how having your own values can help you to become a better version of yourself, it's time to take a look at some of our top core value ideas.

This list of core values is extensive but does not cover every core value there is or can be. We've rounded up some that we think are important to help you consider what it is you value. Take a look below to learn more now.

Compassion

Compassion comes in many forms. There can be compassion for those around you, within your community, compassion for those in difficult situations, self-compassion, the list goes on.

Compassion is an inner feeling and acknowledgement that everyone, all living beings, can suffer. It is about having empathy, sympathy, and concern for others. Compassion can extend outwards or inwards and is of great value in the world today.

Compassion could display as helping out a neighbour, volunteering with a charity, or even choosing a life of no-harm by opting for a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Growth

If we are not changing and growing as people then we become stagnant. Personal growth is good for mental well being, keeping the mind active as you develop new skills, and it is good for society as we learn and develop into more compassionate beings.

Self-growth can help you to feel more empathy for others, help you to understand yourself more, and help you to feel more fulfilled in life.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is important in life. Hanging on to anger, holding grudges, and feeling resentment can all be bad for mental well being. Learning to forgive those who have wronged you, and forgive yourself for mistakes you have made, can help you to feel more positive.

Gratitude

Showing gratitude can help you to really appreciate the wonder of the world around you. From friends and family to the colours of a sunset, showing gratitude and giving thanks for the beauty of life can help you to feel good and help you to start living more fully.

Feeling gratitude for the planet we live on can help you start living more consciously too, helping you to appreciate the work and effort that goes into everything we consume.

Balance

Life is all about balance. You should aim for a good balance of work, family time, free time, and anything else you value. Spending time with your nearest and dearest can be great for your mental wellbeing, while working can help you find purpose in life.

Setting the boundaries for balance can be difficult in the beginning but it is the only way you can ensure you don't lose sight of this core value.

Respect

Respect for yourself goes hand in hand with self-compassion and balance. Choosing to respect your own boundaries, your own health, and your own life can help you with decision making, choosing only things you know will nourish your soul, as well as keeping yourself well, mentally and physically. Respect also means respecting those around you, as well as the planet we live on.

Respect for yourself and the planet could be displayed as choosing to eat well and eat organically. Eating well and maintaining health is an act of self-respect and getting a diet full of organic grains, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables can help you to boost your health as well as respect the planet we live on.

Self-care

Self-care and self-respect work together as values. While self-respect is about setting boundaries, self-care is about making sure you feel good and taking care of yourself.

This could be by eating well, exercising, meditating and practising mindfulness, and following a good skincare routine filled with nourishing scrubs, oils and lotions.

In addition, using aromatherapy oils, like organic sandalwood oil, organic rose oil, and organic lavender oil can all help you to feel calmer and more at peace. Diffusing them in your home can help your mental wellbeing and is an act of self-care.

Wellness

Wellness, self-care, and self-respect also work together. Wellness is more about treating your body with respect, nourishing it well, and getting in plenty of exercises.

Choosing wellness can help you to feel physically fitter which can extend to good mental wellbeing. Choosing wellness is an act of kindness toward yourself.

Responsibility

Taking responsibility for yourself and your actions ensures you keep growing and changing as a person and learning how to be a better person. Understanding how your actions impact others and taking responsibility for that means better relationships with friends and family members and is one of the most important things you can do to live in a meaningful way.

Final thoughts

While the list we have compiled here is not an extensive one, it covers some of the basics of the most important values you can live by in your life. If you value yourself and others, you will find that you can truly make a difference and live a life you are proud of.

Your core values may change and develop throughout your life but ensuring that your actions align with them can help you to feel like a better person and help you to make the world a better place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of personal values?

Some great examples of good core values include:

• Compassion. Showing empathy and concern for others, examples include volunteering for a charity, or choosing a less harmful way of living.
• Self-care. Knowing how to take care of yourself, when to set boundaries, and when your body needs rest.
• Wellness. Choosing to maintain your wellness is an act of self-respect.

What are my values in life?

Your values in life are generally made up of the values you have seen around you. Each core value you live by has usually been influenced by your family, friends, community, and society at large. Every core value you hold will impact actions in your daily life and can influence your own feelings on what a good or meaningful life is. You will find that each core value influences aspects of your personality and choices in different ways.