Personal Values Exercise Process

• Review the Values List included in this folder

• Categorize each one as either:

Very important

Important

Less Important

• Eliminate the Less Important group

• Review the Very Important & Important group again

• Select six values only from these two groups.

• Now, define each value personally. What do they mean for you and your life.

Step back. Take a deep breath.

Set aside a moment to pause and consider these questions. Remember, questions are the

language of pause.

Consider your aspirations and your values…what you hold most important:

• In a paragraph, describe your voice. What does it stand for?

• Where and when do you need to slow down to let your values catch up?

• What losses in life have impacted you the most? What did you learn about what

is most important?

• Which value must you develop the most to achieve your “voice.”
Personal Value List Importance Level
Spirituality Less Important
Belonging Important
Leisure Less Important
Curiosity Very important
Cooperation Less Important
Strength Very important
Humor Important
Duty Less Important
Fun Important
Competition Important
Effectiveness Important
Honesty Important
Self-Realization Very important
Excitement Important
Respect Important
Communication Very important
Prestige Less Important
Mastery Important
Risk Important
Diversity Important
Helping Others Very important
Autonomy Very important
Variety Important
Challenge Important
Creativity Very important
Relationship Very important
Achievement Important
Quality Important
Growth Very important
Wealth Important
Productivity Important
Beauty Important
Power Important
Adventure Very important
Equality Less Important
Structure Less Important
Advancement Important
Independence Very important
Knowledge Important
Innovation Very important
Family Important
Security Important
Health Important
Wisdom Very important
Integrity Important
The Selected Six:

- Curiosity:

- Communication:

- Helping Others:

- Autonomy/Independence.

- Creativity:

- Health:

In terms of curiosity and creativity, I always believe that inspirations and innovations

are commonly seen in life, we just need to be curious enough to dig them out from the

regular life cycle. In terms of communication, as a foreigner, I have a deeper

understanding of the importance of communication compared to local American

students. It may take multiple times of effort to let a person with a completely

different social/cultural background understand what your point is. It is then essential

for me to master the skill of communication if I want to achieve my goal efficiently.

In terms of helping others, I always help my friends when facing troubles. Instead of

saying things to relive them, I prefer to do real things to improve. For example, when

my friends complained about their poor house condition, I will take him to find a new

house. It is just a way I show my sincerity. In terms of autonomy, it is not hard to see

that since I came to American high school to study by myself when I was about 15

years old. It took enormous self-control and autonomy to manage my life at such a

young age. I did it well and learned a unique experience from it. It prepares me to
face a future challenge. In terms of health, I pay serious attention to it. I deeply

understand that each person only has one life. Therefore I carefully treated it. I never

drank any alcohol, never smoked a single cigarette, and never used any drugs. I also

never went to bars, nightclubs, or places like that, and I try to stay in a life cycle as

healthy as possible.