Recently, I came across an exercise from Stan Slap that helped me uncover something crucial about myself—my most important value
Like many of us, I’ve always known that values shape who we are, but I never truly realized how much my one core value has influenced my work, decisions, and personal life. Understanding this was like finding the missing piece of a puzzle—suddenly, my choices, preferences, and even moments of energy or exhaustion made perfect sense.
Being self-aware of our values is powerful. We all have many values, but one of them is the foundation that drives everything else. When I identified mine, I was amazed to see how it had silently guided my biggest career decisions and personal relationships.
This clarity gave me a deeper understanding of why certain solutions feel right and why others feel uncomfortable. It also helped me recognize the moments that energize me and those that drain me. The best part? The process is simple—self-awareness starts by paying attention.
If you want to discover your core value, I highly recommend this exercise: Stan Slap’s Values Exercise. But since we all love quick solutions, here’s a streamlined version:
1️⃣ Imagine yourself at the end of your career—80, 90, or 100 years old. What gave you a deep sense of fulfillment and meaning?
2️⃣ Write down 10 core values that align with that vision
3️⃣ Narrow the list down to 5.
4️⃣ Narrow it further down to 3.
5️⃣ By this step, you might find the one core value that truly defines you. If not, list activities that make you feel aligned with those values. Reflect on the positive outcomes and also the trade-offs they bring.
I’d love to hear from you—have you ever done a similar exercise? What did you discover about yourself?
