đź“– Table of Contents
<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4a0f9673-9bcf-4d8d-8566-db262529fb63/HighOutput_Symbol_Purple.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4a0f9673-9bcf-4d8d-8566-db262529fb63/HighOutput_Symbol_Purple.png" width="40px" /> “Values are how you are living, when you are living a meaningful life. Values are actions, not words. They’re not beliefs or morals, they’re ways of living that are meaningful to you.” —Jenna LeJeune PhD
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The Values Card Sort exercise is a reflective and engaging tool designed to help individuals explore and prioritize their personal values. Originating from the book Values in Therapy by Jenna LeJeune, PhD, and Jason B. Luoma, PhD, this method offers a structured approach to understanding what values are most important to us and how they can guide our actions and decisions. By sorting through a series of value cards—each representing a different value—participants can gain insights into their core beliefs and motivations. The value cards used in this exercise are directly inspired by the comprehensive list provided in LeJeune and Luoma's work, ensuring a thorough exploration of personal values. This process is not just about identifying what we value; it's an invitation to deeper self-discovery and intentional living.
Below, you'll find a Kanban board designed to assist you in identifying and prioritizing your personal values. This exercise is a step towards understanding what truly matters to you, guiding your decisions and actions with greater intention.
It's important to approach this exercise with an open mind and a sense of curiosity about yourself. The values you identify today serve as insightful data points in the ongoing journey of self-discovery. Remember, what you pinpoint as your core values now may not be the ultimate values that guide your life. Instead, think of this process as peeling back layers to reveal deeper insights into your motivations, aspirations, and the essence of what drives you. This exercise is not about finding definitive answers but about gathering valuable information that illuminates your path towards living a more aligned and purposeful life.
As you engage with the values card sort, keep in mind that our understanding of ourselves is continually evolving. What you discover today is a snapshot of your current state, a moment in the broader, dynamic process of personal growth. This exploration is an opportunity to reflect on your present priorities and how they shape your life, providing a foundation to build upon as you continue to evolve and refine your understanding of your core values.
An essential aspect of this journey is making direct contact with reality, engaging deeply with your experiences to understand what resonates with your true self. It's through lived experiences, reflection, and genuine interaction with the world around us that we can discern what values hold true significance. This process requires openness to experience, willingness to encounter the full range of our reactions, and attentiveness to what genuinely moves us. By embracing our experiences and observing our responses, we can gain profound insights into what we value most.
From the perspective of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), core values are chosen life directions that are intrinsically rewarding to pursue. Unlike goals, which can be achieved and checked off a list, values are ongoing and dynamic; they guide our behavior over the long term. ACT emphasizes living in accordance with one's values as a key component of psychological flexibility, which entails being open to experiences, staying present, and taking actions aligned with personal values even in the face of difficulties. Identifying and committing to your core values is seen as essential for leading a meaningful and fulfilling life. In this light, the values card sort exercise is not just about identifying what you value but also about beginning to explore how to live those values more fully in every aspect of your life.
As you’ll see, the board is divided into three columns, representing different levels of resonance with your personal values:
