The Complete Core Values List: 149 Values to Explore

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 here are two complementary resources to work with:

1. The 48-value framework from my book — four dimensions, twelve values each — the same framework behind the free Values Assessment.
2. An alphabetical directory of 101 values to browse freely and spark ideas for your own personal or organizational list.

As you go through them, 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.

The 48 core values from Start With Values

This framework comes from my book, Start With Values (Penguin, 2025): 48 values organized under four dimensions of a balanced life — Belonging, Growth, Impact and Fulfillment. One instruction before you begin: think about how you are, not how you'd like to be. It's an easy thing to get backwards. And aim for a maximum of five — the point isn't to collect everything you admire, it's to uncover the essence of what matters most to you.

Prefer a print-friendly version? The PDF below is from the book too — ideal for workshops, journaling, or marking up with a pen.

Download the Values List PDF

A list 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'd rather be guided than browse, the free Values Assessment reveals your top five in about three minutes, no sign-up required.

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 broader, ungrouped directory to scan freely — well suited to organizations or individuals wanting to explore a wide spectrum without a framework nudging them one way or another.

What to do with your list

A shortlist of values becomes powerful the moment you use it. Rank your top three, test them against a real decision with the free Decision Matrix, and if you're choosing values for a team rather than a person, the Company Values Builder turns each one into behaviors, hiring questions, and rituals. Words on a list are the start. Living them is the point.