Discovering Your Core Values for Creative Wellness
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what truly matters most to me. The non-negotiables that guide my decisions, shape my creative practice, and define how I move through the world. It’s so easy to get caught up in external noise, but when you strip everything back, what are the core values that make you who you are? What do you stand for? What do you need to feel aligned?
I recently came across a powerful resource from Brené Brown, a researcher, storyteller, and author known for her work on vulnerability, courage, and wholehearted living.
In her book Dare to Lead, she shares a comprehensive list of core values to help people identify the principles that define them. It’s a simple yet profound exercise: distill your values down to five - not ten, not fifteen, but five. The ones that, no matter what, remain central to who you are.
I truly believe that your creativity is the most authentic expression of who you are. And the more you align with your authentic self, the more your life and creativity will flow. Getting clear on your core values and what defines you will help guide you on the path to To Curating a Life that is a Work of Art. Take a moment for your own Creative Wellness, follow the link and take the test to define YOUR unique core values.
How to Find Your Five Core Values:
Scan the list and highlight the words that resonate with you. Don't overthink it, just go with what feels intuitively true.
Narrow it down to 10–15 values. Look for themes and connections.
Cut it down to five. If you had to let go of the rest, which five would you fight the hardest to keep?
Define what they mean to you. A word alone isn’t enough. How do you embody these values in your daily life?
Use them as a guide. When making decisions, check in: Does this align with my core values?
Scan the list and highlight the words that resonate with you. Don't overthink it, just go with what feels intuitively true.
Narrow it down to 10–15 values. Look for themes and connections.
Cut it down to five. If you had to let go of the rest, which five would you fight the hardest to keep?
Define what they mean to you. A word alone isn’t enough. How do you embody these values in your daily life?
Use them as a guide. When making decisions, check in: Does this align with my core values?
My Core Values:
After going through this process myself (and narrowing it down to just five was actually quite challenging!), I landed on five values that define how I live, create, and move through the world:
• Authenticity: Living in full alignment with my truth, without external influence or societal expectations.
• Creativity: Seeing life as a work of art, expressing myself through all forms of creation.
• Freedom: The ability to design my life on my own terms, unrestricted and in flow.
• Nature: Deep connection to the earth, its rhythms, and the energy of the natural world.
• Wellbeing: A holistic balance of mind, body, and soul that allows me to thrive.
Identifying these values has been grounding. It gives me clarity when making decisions, helps me recognize what’s truly important, and reminds me of what I refuse to compromise on.
Try It for Yourself:
I encourage you to take a few minutes and go through this exercise. Your values might surprise you, or they might reaffirm what you already knew deep down. Either way, having this clarity is a powerful tool for living in alignment with who you truly are.
What are your five core values? I’d love to hear them in the comments section below!
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