Core values are the compass points of our lives. They inform our choices, shape our relationships, and guide how we respond to challenges. Goals come and go. Values describe what we stand for at the deepest level — and that's a very different thing.
Here's the tricky part. Values are often unconscious. We're running on them all day without ever naming them. Which is exactly why putting words to them can be so transformative — clarifying your values helps you understand what actually motivates you, how you want to show up in the world, and which opportunities genuinely align with your priorities rather than just looking good on paper.
So let me offer you two complementary resources to work with.
- A research-based framework of 48 core values organized under four themes — Belonging, Growth, Impact and Fulfillment — to help you reflect on different dimensions of a balanced life.
- An alphabetical directory of 101 values you can browse to spark inspiration and refine your own personal or organizational list.
- As you go through these lists, aim to land on three to five values that resonate most deeply. Focus on qualities that truly reflect who you are, not the ideals you think you "should" hold. That distinction matters more than it sounds like it should.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9ypNlW7\_Zw
This is the list of core values you've been looking for, by brad hook
The list of core values
If you'd prefer a downloadable, print-friendly PDF version of our values list, you're welcome to grab it below.
Prefer to stay right here on the page? Go ahead and work through the categories below. One instruction before you do: think about how you are, not how you'd like to be. It's an easy thing to get backwards.
Aim for a maximum of 5 core values. The point isn't to collect everything you admire — it's to uncover the essence of what matters most to you.
| Belonging Love Friendship Respect Fairness Community Empathy Kindness Intimacy Family Teamwork Collaboration Inclusion | Growth Learning Achievement Curiosity Balance Physical Fitness Mental Fitness Skill Mastery Resilience Adaptability Creativity Courage Honesty |
| Impact Influence Status Wealth Credibility Risk-Taking Autonomy Leadership Advocacy Visibility Authority Accomplishment Reputation | Fulfillment Peace Gratitude Wisdom Spirituality Social Contribution Nature Stewardship Vocation Philanthropy Transcendence Legacy Altruism Awe |
List of values
A list like this one is a good start, but it's not the only path in. There are many other ways to discover your core values, and if you want a guided experience rather than a solo one, that's exactly what the Values Course is for.
An alphabetical list of 101 core values
Some people find categories helpful. Others find them limiting. If you're in the second camp, here's a more comprehensive list, ungrouped, for you to scan freely. It's well suited to organizations or individuals wanting to explore a wide spectrum of possible core values without a framework nudging them one way or another.
- Accountability
- Adaptability
- Altruism
- Ambition
- Authenticity
- Balance
- Boldness
- Compassion
- Commitment
- Cooperation
- Courage
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Determination
- Diligence
- Discipline
- Diversity
- Empathy
- Equality
- Excellence
- Fairness
- Flexibility
- Freedom
- Generosity
- Gratitude
- Harmony
- Honesty
- Honor
- Humility
- Improvement
- Independence
- Individuality
- Influence
- Innovation
- Inspiration
- Integrity
- Inclusivity
- Joyfulness
- Justice
- Kindness
- Leadership
- Loyalty
- Mindfulness
- Moderation
- Open-mindedness
- Optimism
- Originality
- Passion
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Persistence
- Precision
- Pragmatism
- Professionalism
- Proactivity
- Prudence
- Punctuality
- Purity
- Quality
- Quietness
- Realism
- Reflection
- Reliability
- Respect
- Respectfulness
- Responsibility
- Resilience
- Resourcefulness
- Security
- Self-control
- Self-improvement
- Service
- Simplicity
- Sincerity
- Solidarity
- Spirituality
- Spontaneity
- Stability
- Supportiveness
- Sustainability
- Sympathy
- Teamwork
- Thoughtfulness
- Thrift
- Timeliness
- Tolerance
- Tranquility
- Transparency
- Trust
- Trustworthiness
- Understanding
- Uniqueness
- Unity
- Vitality
- Volunteering
- Warmth
- Watchfulness
- Willpower
- Wisdom
- Zeal
- Zest
Discover your own core values
Take the free, research-backed Values App assessment — nine minutes, max.
Discover your values