How to Live Authentically by Identifying Your Core Values

Posted on July 15th, 2025.

Sometimes, the pressure to conform to societal expectations often leads us to live inauthentically, resulting in a feeling of dissatisfaction.

However, by embarking on a journey to discover and center our lives around our core values, we can create a sense of purpose and clarity.

This process requires bravery and honesty, but the rewards of living authentically far outweigh the challenges.

By aligning our daily choices with our core values, we can cultivate a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling, ultimately serving our most genuine selves. 

The Essence of Core Values

Core values should not be mistaken for beliefs, although they do intertwine and influence each other. Beliefs are convictions or acceptance that certain things are true or real and often arise from experiences, cultural backgrounds, or education. For example, you might believe that kindness is a virtue due to religious teachings or a family tradition.

In contrast, core values are deeply ingrained principles that act as the bedrock for your personal and professional life, influencing behaviors and decisions at a fundamental level. They are not simply tangential thoughts but rather the core of your identity, illuminating what truly matters to you and what you strive to uphold in each moment. Core values provide stability and a clear navigation system through life’s complexities, offering guidance on what choices align with your authentic self.

Importantly, these core values play a significant role in shaping what you perceive as a meaningful life. By understanding and acknowledging your core values, you can make authentic choices that resonate with who you genuinely are and what you desire out of life. For example, if one of your core values is family, you might prioritize spending time with loved ones or make career decisions that allow for greater work-life balance.

On the other hand, if one of your core values is creativity, pursuing a career that fosters innovation over monetary gain might bring you more fulfillment. Therefore, asking yourself, “what are your core values and beliefs?” becomes critical, as these values influence how you define a truly meaningful life and how you navigate through it, dispelling doubts and aligning your actions with what you find most significant.

Let’s illustrate some common core values and how they manifest in everyday life:

• Integrity: Always choosing honesty even when it’s difficult, thereby building trust with those around you.
• Compassion: Practicing empathy and prioritizing kindness in interactions, encouraging a nurturing environment.
• Growth: Continually seeking personal and professional development, aiming to expand your mind and skills.
• Adventure: Valuing new experiences and maintaining an open-minded approach to possibilities.
• Contribution: Feeling fulfilled by giving back to the community and helping others succeed.

By identifying and living by these principles, not only do these values provide clarity, but they actively contribute to a life that feels inherently purposeful and satisfying. 

Steps to Discover Your Core Values

Embarking on the journey of self-discovery to identify your core values requires intentional reflection and thoughtful analysis. The first step involves examining past experiences to uncover patterns that align with what deeply matters to you. Begin by reflecting on times in your life when you felt the most fulfilled and satisfied. Pay attention to the activities, people, and environments surrounding those moments.

Ask yourself, what was happening then that contributed to my happiness? Identifying these factors will help you discern the aspects of life you inherently value. For example, if you recognize that volunteering at a homeless shelter gave you immense satisfaction, it might indicate that contribution or compassion is a core value you hold dear.

Conversely, reflect on situations that triggered dissatisfaction or discomfort, probing whether a misalignment with core values was at play. By consistently observing these high and low points, you develop a genuine understanding of the principles that guide your sense of fulfillment.

Next, consider the elements in your life that you cannot live without, as these provide insights into your non-negotiables—a crucial component in defining your core values. Take some time to draft a list of these components, whether they pertain to relationships, career, leisure, or even material aspects. Reflect on how these align with your overall aspirations and desires for an authentic life.

Ask yourself, if everything was stripped away, what are the handful of things I would fight to keep? This question not only illuminates what holds profound significance but also underscores the values essential for your genuine happiness. Reflect deeply on this list, and as you do, you may find that certain patterns emerge, indicating an underlying value from which you derive significant meaning. 

Finally, identify moments of true joy, embracing the simplicity of activities or interactions that naturally bring satisfaction without external motivations. Regularly revisit these instances where you lose track of time, and everything seems effortless and resonant with your being. Ask yourself, when I'm truly happy, what am I doing? and note how these activities relate to the broader scope of your life's pursuits. Recognizing these moments allows you to detect recurring themes and patterns that signify an alignment with innate values. 

Aligning Life with Values for Intentional Living

By choosing to consistently live on purpose, you're designing your life in a way that effortlessly flows with what you hold deeply significant. Apply these values to your relationships by asking yourself how these core beliefs impact the way you interact with loved ones.

Consider, for example, a value such as integrity. How does this influence your communication style or conflict resolution strategies? By aligning your interactions with integrity, you foster honesty and trust within your relationships, which creates deeper, more meaningful connections.

Moreover, examine how your work aligns with your core values. Would a role that uplifts your value of contribution overtake more financial considerations? If creativity forms a cornerstone of your values, might it alter the career path you choose? These are pivotal questions that can steer your life design towards a path that truly resonates with you. 

When striving for intentional living, it’s significant to cultivate a practice of evaluating your daily actions against your core values. This means consistently questioning whether your choices and activities uphold the values you aim to live by. As you start each day, set intentions that correlate with these values, using them as a touchstone to steer your actions.

For instance, if empathy is a priority, consider how it can shape your communication with colleagues or guide your decisions during a meeting. At the end of the day, reflect on your actions, choices, and any situations that arose. Ask yourself: Were my actions today aligned with my core values? Did I live on purpose? This reflection serves a dual purpose by identifying with which situations your values were upheld and recognizing areas for improvement.

Such an introspective practice solidifies your intentions into tangible outcomes, fortifying the bond between what you value and how you live daily. Over time, this evaluation becomes instinctive, allowing authenticity and integrity to naturally infuse every aspect of your life, from your morning routines to high-stakes decisions.

Related: How to Design a Life That Embraces Your True Identity

Looking for Expert Help?

Reflecting on core values extends far beyond identifying them; it includes weaving them into the fabric of your existence. Imagine each day as a new painting, one where intentional strokes resonate with the affirmations of your most cherished beliefs. As life unfolds, you gain the ability to navigate its complexities with a deeper sense of awareness.

The stories you live by transform to echo values like compassion, integrity, and creativity, allowing authentic narratives to emerge naturally. As these narratives take shape, they reveal the essence of a life lived deliberately, a pursuit many long for amidst the chaos of distractions. 

To support you on this journey, Warrior in the Garden, LLC offers resources designed to provide clarity and inspiration. With our collection of e-books, you can dive deeper into specific aspects of authentic living. Whether you need guidance on personal growth or strategies for minimalism, our e-books are crafted to assist you in honing the wisdom you've already begun to cultivate.

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Our offerings are crafted to remind you that although the world may insist otherwise, the greatest power lies not in following trends but in staying true to the principles that define you.