Personal values are qualities or priorities you want to give weight to in your choices. Examples include curiosity, honesty, friendship, independence and rest. The word alone is only a starting point: define what it means in your own circumstances.
Use the examples below to notice what fits, what does not and what you would name differently. These are original everyday definitions and illustrations, not a test or an official list of the values everyone should hold.
Curiosity
Making room to learn and ask questions. In everyday life: Ask someone how their work actually happens.
Kindness
Responding with care for another person. In everyday life: Offer practical help without demanding an explanation.
Honesty
Trying to be truthful about what you know and do. In everyday life: Say when a deadline is unrealistic.
Independence
Having a say in the choices that shape your life. In everyday life: Learn a task you have always relied on others to do.
Belonging
Feeling part of a group where you can participate. In everyday life: Make time for a regular gathering.
Creativity
Making or approaching something in your own way. In everyday life: Try a different way to explain an idea.
Stability
Having dependable routines or conditions. In everyday life: Keep a predictable evening routine.
Adventure
Making room for unfamiliar experiences. In everyday life: Explore a nearby place you have never visited.
Fairness
Considering how opportunities and responsibilities are shared. In everyday life: Discuss how a shared task is divided.
Learning
Developing understanding or skill over time. In everyday life: Practise a small part of a subject each week.
Family
Giving attention to the people you consider family. In everyday life: Arrange a visit that fits both people’s needs.
Friendship
Caring for chosen relationships. In everyday life: Follow up on something a friend said mattered.
Rest
Making room to stop and recover from effort. In everyday life: Leave an evening uncommitted.
Reliability
Being someone others can reasonably count on. In everyday life: Keep a promise or explain early when it must change.
Freedom
Having room to make meaningful choices. In everyday life: Keep some time available for an unplanned interest.
Contribution
Doing something useful beyond your own immediate needs. In everyday life: Help with a task in a community group.
Courage
Acting on something important despite uncertainty. In everyday life: Ask a question you are worried may sound basic.
Privacy
Choosing what to keep to yourself and what to share. In everyday life: Ask before posting somebody’s personal story.
Craftsmanship
Giving care to the quality of what you make. In everyday life: Check the details before handing over a finished piece.
Playfulness
Making room for humour and experimentation. In everyday life: Try an activity without keeping score.
Respect
Taking people and their boundaries seriously. In everyday life: Accept a no without trying to negotiate it away.
Patience
Allowing time for a process or a person. In everyday life: Let someone finish before offering your answer.
Simplicity
Reducing unnecessary complication. In everyday life: Choose a smaller version of a plan you can sustain.
Connection
Being present with other people. In everyday life: Put distractions aside for a conversation.
A value is different from a goal
“Learn to cook three meals” is something you can complete. Learning, independence or caring for family might be the value behind it. Two people can choose the same goal for different reasons. Ask what matters about an action rather than deciding that an impressive-looking goal must be yours.
Values can pull in different directions. You might want adventure and stability, or generosity and rest. That does not make either preference false. Consider what deserves attention in this situation and what a workable compromise looks like.
Choose a few examples that resonate, then use the personal values card sort to compare them. If every word sounds appealing, start from a real experience rather than selecting the words you think you should admire.