Values
Your values guide how you decide, act, and live.
Why Values matter
Values are your internal reference point. They influence how you make decisions, where you invest your time and energy, the relationships you build, and the work you choose to pursue.
​
While values may evolve over time, they form the foundation upon which direction, goals, and action are built.
Definition
Values are the beliefs about what is most important in life and what is right or wrong, which guide behaviour and decision-making.
How Values fit within Direction
Values are the first component of Direction.
​
They inform your Goals, shape your Action Plan, and help you assess progress as you move along The Path. Setting goals without clarity on values risks you moving in the wrong direction.
The five lenses
Use the following lenses to clarify, test, and refine your values. You do not need to use all of them exhaustively. Begin where it feels most useful.​
​
Models & Theories
Models and theories provide structured ways to think about values, priorities, and trade-offs.
​
Some may resonate directly. Others may serve as starting points to adapt or combine into a personal working model. No single model fits every individual or stage of life.
​
​
Self Review
Values require honesty.
​
Through self-inquiry, assess whether your stated values align with your actions, decisions, and lived experience. In the tradition of the Socratic method, question assumptions, identify inconsistencies, and clarify what truly matters to you.
​
​
Lessons
Lessons distil experience into guidance.
​
They highlight common missteps, enduring principles, and practical heuristics that help avoid unnecessary error. Review selectively and integrate those that align with your values and goals.
​
​
Case Studies
Stories help make consequences tangible.
​
Case studies illustrate what can happen when values are aligned or ignored. They serve as examples, cautions, and sources of perspective rather than prescriptions to copy.
​
​
Library
Reading deepens judgement.
​
Foundational texts, biographies, and histories allow you to learn from the experiences of others. Use the library to explore values through the accumulated wisdom of those who came before.
​
​
Output
You should leave this section with:
​
A clear articulation of your current values
​
Notes or reflections recorded in a format that suits you
​
A willingness to revisit and refine over time
​
​
If useful, The Workbook can help you structure and revisit your outputs.
With your values clarified, move on to defining your goals.​​
​
​