Identifying your core values

Your Life's Compass

Our values ​​are the deepest principles that guide our decisions, actions, and ultimately, the course of our lives.

They act as an internal compass, showing us what is truly important and meaningful to us.

Often, we live without a clear awareness of what these core values ​​are.

We make decisions based on habit, social pressure, or impulses of the moment, which can lead us to feel a deep sense of internal conflict, dissatisfaction, or lack of direction.

When our actions are in alignment with our values, we feel integrity and purpose.

When there is a disconnect, we feel friction and emptiness.

A Clarity Exercise. The Three Columns

To bring these inner guides to light, we can conduct a structured and revealing values ​​elicitation exercise.

It consists of dividing a sheet of paper into three columns:

• Now: In this column, make a list of everything that you consider important in your life at this very moment. These could be concepts like "family," "financial stability," "adventure," "health," "learning," etc. Don't censor yourself; simply write down whatever comes to mind.
• Last 3 Months: In the second column, reflect on the recent past. What has been a priority for you in the last three months? Where have you invested your time, energy, and resources? Write down the values ​​reflected in those actions.
• Lifetime: In the last column, think about the bigger picture. What values ​​have been with you for as long as you can remember? What principles were instilled in you as a child that still resonate with you? What are the constants that have defined your character over the years?

Interpreting the Values ​​Map

This three-column exercise provides you with a dynamic map of your values.

It allows you to see what your current priorities are, which may be influenced by your present circumstances.

It also shows you how your values ​​may have changed in the recent past, perhaps in response to significant life events.

Most importantly, it helps you identify your core values—those that are constant and form the foundation of your identity.

Having this clarity is immensely empowering.

It allows you to evaluate your current decisions and lifestyle by asking yourself, "Is this aligned with what's truly important to me?"

It's a fundamental tool of self-awareness that empowers you to deliberately design a life that not only looks good on the outside, but feels authentic and fulfilling on the inside.