Discover your core values

How to Discover and Create Your Core Values

In my last video and blog, I shared why core values are so important for your well-being business and what they are. Today, I want to dive into how to create or distill your core values.

Core values are the guiding principles that shape your business, your decisions, and the way you show up for others. They’re the heart of what you stand for. And the good news? You proabably already have them — you just need to uncover them.
Here are three practical ways to help you find your core values:

1. Explore Existing Lists
A simple first step is to Google “business core values” or search online for inspiration. You’ll find plenty of lists of potential values.
Jot down the words or phrases that resonate with you — those that feel true to who you are and what you believe. At this stage, don’t worry about narrowing it down. Gather as many as you feel drawn to.

2. Reflect and Free Write
Next, take some time to journal or free write about what’s important to you. Consider questions like:

• What do I value most in how I work and live?
• What matters to me in how I run my business?
• What frustrates or repels me about other businesses?

Pay attention to the moments that make you feel uncomfortable, annoyed, or “icky.” These reactions are just as revealing as the things you love.
For example, maybe you’ve worked with a business that was dishonest, failed to deliver on promises, or communicated poorly. These experiences tell you something about what you value — and what you won’t compromise on.

3. Listen to Feedback
The third step is to look at the feedback you’ve received from others.

• Read reviews on your business or social media pages.
• Look at feedback forms from workshops or training sessions.
• Reflect on the kind things people have said to you in person.

I personally keep a small notebook called my “Book of Sunshine,” where I jot down any heartwarming or meaningful comments I receive in my classes or training. Over time, certain words keep appearing — for me, “inclusive” comes up again and again. Sometimes we’re not aware of these traits because they’re so intrinsic to who we are.

Distilling Your Core Values
Now comes the magic: take all of the information you’ve gathered — lists, journal notes, feedback — and spend some time with it.

• Look for repeated themes or words that feel particularly resonant.
• Meditate or reflect on which words feel most “right” for you.
• Aim to narrow it down to four to seven core values.
  
  
  

Four to seven is a manageable number — enough to be meaningful, but not so many that it’s hard to remember or live by.
Sometimes you’ll have overlapping ideas, too. For example, I once wanted both “honesty” and “integrity.” After reflection, I realised that integrity encompassed honesty, so I combined them.

Bringing Your Core Values to Life
Your goal is to identify words or short phrases that truly embody who you are and what your business stands for.

• Draw inspiration from what people say about you and your work.
• Reflect on your personal values and what frustrates you in other businesses.
• Use lists from Google or other resources to spark ideas.

Once you’ve gathered everything, sit with it, reflect, and see which words feel authentic. These are your core values — the principles that guide every decision and interaction in your business.
For me, one of my core values is Forever Learning. It wasn’t easy to fit into one word, so I kept it as a short phrase. The key is to choose words or phrases that feel true to you.

I’d love to hear what your core values are! If you’ve already written them down, share them in the comments. Talking about values and seeing what resonates with others is a really powerful way to refine your own thinking.