The Ultimate List of Core Values (Over 230)

Overview: A comprehensive list of core values to help you discover the personal values most important to you.

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What’s most important to you in life? 

Your core values determine how you answer this question.

When you know what you value, you can live in accord with those values. This leads to greater fulfillment and personal meaning.

When you don’t know your values, you are likely to violate them often. This creates internal tension, which leads to destructive habits and regressive behavior.

So let’s explore the power of values …

What Are Core Values?

Values are standards of behavior. They are aspirational ideals.

Values represent what’s important—that is, what a person, organization, culture, or society emphasizes.

Core values, also called personal values, are specifically what’s most important to you.

Our core values highlight what we as individuals stand for. These values guide our behaviors, decisions, and actions.

Based on a host of factors including personality, temperament, and life experiences, each of us has a different set of values.

Core values examples include beauty, honesty, discipline, truth, responsibility, and kindness.

A Values Example in Action

Once you identify your personal values, you can use them to make better decisions and positively influence your behavior.

For example, let’s say you value growth. But lately, you’ve been very busy and distracted.

Maybe you’ve been really focused on work or dealing with some family drama.

As soon as you become conscious that you’re not investing any time and energy in something important to you, you can make specific decisions and take action.

You might, for example, decide to carve out extra time for meditation in the morning, or for doing inner work in the evening. It all depends on what “growth” represents to you.

Instinctively, you’ll also begin paying attention to things you’re doing that aren’t supportive. You’ll start saying “no” to certain distractions that don’t support your particular value structure.

In this way, our core values can guide us toward our higher ideals.

How Many Values Should You Have on Your List?

Below you’ll find a list of over 200 potential core values.

Obviously, if everything is an ideal standard, then nothing is really important.

In working with clients for over 25 years, I found that the target number of core values ranges between 5 and 10.

Ideally, I would say keep your number of core values as close to five as possible.

How to Determine Your Core Values

When people first hear about core values, they often want to select them from a list of values. It seems easier to pick them from a menu.

But as I’ve noted elsewhere:

Values aren’t selected; they’re discovered. We don’t choose our values. Our values reveal themselves to us.

If you exclusively use a list of core values, your conscious mind will evaluate which values “appear better” than others.

You’re likely to select values that “sound good” based on your desired self-image instead of what’s intrinsically meaningful to you.

Instead of picking from a list, in the 7-Step Discovery Exercise, I offer a free step-by-step process to help you define your core values.

A List of Over 200 Personal Core Values

However, it is useful to scan a core values list to prime yourself before doing these types of exercises.

As a reference, here’s a list of 230 values examples:

Values A – EValues E – PValues P – W
AcceptanceExplorationPresent
AccomplishmentExpressiveProductivity
AccountabilityFairnessProfessionalism
AccuracyFamilyProsperity
AchievementFamousPurpose
AdaptabilityFearlessQuality
AlertnessFeelingsRealistic
AltruismFerociousReason
AmbitionFidelityRecognition
AmusementFocusRecreation
AssertivenessForesightReflective
AttentiveFortitudeRespect
AwarenessFreedomResponsibility
BalanceFriendshipRestraint
BeautyFunResults-oriented
BoldnessGenerosityReverence
BraveryGeniusRigor
BrillianceGivingRisk
CalmGoodnessSatisfaction
CandorGraceSecurity
CapableGratitudeSelf-reliance
CarefulGreatnessSelfless
CertaintyGrowthSensitivity
ChallengeHappinessSerenity
CharityHard workService
CleanlinessHarmonySharing
ClearHealthSignificance
CleverHonestySilence
ComfortHonorSimplicity
CommitmentHopeSincerity
Common senseHumilitySkill
CommunicationHumorSkillfulness
CommunityImaginationSmart
CompassionImprovementSolitude
CompetenceIndependenceSpirit
ConcentrationIndividualitySpirituality
ConfidenceInnovationSpontaneous
ConnectionInquisitiveStability
ConsciousnessInsightfulStatus
ConsistencyInspiringStewardship
ContentmentIntegrityStrength
ContributionIntelligenceStructure
ControlIntensitySuccess
ConvictionIntuitiveSupport
CooperationJoySurprise
CourageJusticeSustainability
CourtesyKindnessTalent
CreationKnowledgeTeamwork
CreativityLawfulTemperance
CredibilityLeadershipThankful
CuriosityLearningThorough
DecisiveLibertyThoughtful
DecisivenessLogicTimeliness
DedicationLoveTolerance
DependabilityLoyaltyToughness
DeterminationMasteryTraditional
DevelopmentMaturityTranquility
DevotionMeaningTransparency
DignityModerationTrust
DisciplineMotivationTrustworthy
DiscoveryOpennessTruth
DriveOptimismUnderstanding
EffectivenessOrderUniqueness
EfficiencyOrganizationUnity
EmpathyOriginalityValor
EmpowerPassionVictory
EndurancePatienceVigor
EnergyPeaceVision
EnjoymentPerformanceVitality
EnthusiasmPersistenceWealth
EqualityPlayfulnessWelcoming
EthicalPoiseWinning
ExcellencePotentialWisdom
ExperiencePowerWonder

Core Values List by Category

If you go through my 7-Step Discovery Process, it’s helpful to ensure you don’t miss any key categories that are important to you.

As such, I’ve curated the above core values list into categories for your review. In no particular order:

  • Integrity
  • Feelings
  • Achievement
  • Intelligence
  • Spirituality
  • Creativity
  • Freedom
  • Courage
  • Order
  • Enjoyment
  • Presence
  • Health

But please take these categories loosely. They can change based on the perspective.

IntegrityAchievementIntelligence
AccountabilityAccomplishmentBrilliance
CandorCapableClever
CommitmentChallengeCommon sense
DependabilityChallengeDecisiveness
DignityCompetenceForesight
HonestyCredibilityGenius
HonorDeterminationInsightful
ResponsibilityDevelopmentKnowledge
SincerityDriveLearning
TransparencyEffectivenessLogic
TrustEmpowerOpenness
TrustworthyEnduranceRealistic
TruthExcellenceReason
FamousReflective
FeelingsGreatnessSmart
AcceptanceGrowthThoughtful
ComfortHard workUnderstanding
CompassionImprovementVision
ContentmentInfluenceWisdom
EmpathyIntensity
GraceLeadershipStrength
GratitudeMasteryAmbition
HappinessMotivationAssertiveness
HopePerformanceBoldness
InspiringPersistenceConfidence
IrreverentPotentialDedication
JoyPowerDiscipline
KindnessProductivityFerocious
LoveProfessionalismFortitude
OptimismProsperityPersistence
PassionRecognitionPower
PeaceResults-orientedRestraint
PoiseRiskRigor
RespectSignificanceSelf-reliance
ReverenceSkillTemperance
SatisfactionSkillfulnessToughness
SerenityStatusVigor
ThankfulSuccessWill
TranquilityTalent
WelcomingVictoryFreedom
WealthIndependence
SpiritualityWinningIndividuality
AdaptabilityLiberty
AltruismCreativity
BalanceCreationCourage
CharityCuriosityBravery
CommunicationDiscoveryConviction
CommunityExplorationFearless
ConnectionExpressiveValor
ConsciousnessImagination
ContributionInnovationOrder
CooperationInquisitiveAccuracy
CourtesyIntuitiveCareful
DevotionOpennessCertainty
EqualityOriginalityCleanliness
EthicalUniquenessConsistency
FairnessWonderControl
FamilyDecisive
FidelityEnjoymentEconomy
FriendshipAmusementJustice
GenerosityEnthusiasmLawful
GivingExperienceModeration
GoodnessFunOrganization
HarmonyHumorSecurity
HumilityPlayfulnessStability
LoyaltyRecreationStructure
MaturitySpontaneousThorough
MeaningSurpriseTimeliness
Selfless
SensitivityPresenceHealth
ServiceAlertnessEnergy
SharingAttentiveVitality
SpiritAwareness
StewardshipBeauty
SupportCalm
SustainabilityClear
TeamworkConcentration
ToleranceFocus
UnitySilence
Simplicity
Solitude

Ready to Define Your Core Values?

Since I published the original version of the 7 Steps Discovery Process and this values list in 2017, over 2.5 million individuals have begun their journey to discover their values.

However, after surveying thousands of subscribers, I learned that many individuals were still getting stuck in this discovery process.

  • How do you know if you’ve selected the “right” values?
  • How do you prioritize and pick only a few values? (3 out of a 200+!?!)
  • And how the heck do I live these values each day?

So, after months of development, I refined the 7-step process and crafted it into a step-by-step course.

If you’re interested in finding your authentic values and committed to living your values each day …

Check out the details here >>

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