What You Need to Do to Truly Live a Values-Based Life

We all have values, but how often do we use them as a true compass for our lives? What if, instead of just listing things you care about, you could turn your values into tangible qualities that guide your actions and decisions every single day? In this journal we are going to explore how to use your values to live with more purpose and clarity.

What Are Values, Really?

Values are often thought of as the things we appreciate or find important—things like family, health, success, and happiness. And while many people see values as a simple list of things they care about or are striving towards, I want to take this idea a little deeper and challenge you to rethink how you use your values to guide your life.

In the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), values aren’t just ideals we hold dear; they are desired qualities we bring into our actions and behaviours. They serve as our inner compass, helping us determine how we want to behave, how we treat ourselves, and how we interact with others. Framing our values as qualities we want to embody allows us to turn them from abstract ideas into practical tools that can guide our daily choices.

The Difference Between Values and Goals

Firstly, it’s important to distinguish between values and goals, as they’re often confused. Though they may seem similar, they are fundamentally different.

Goals are things we work toward and achieve—they are future-oriented. Whether it’s completing a seven-day MINDDetox, finishing a fitness challenge, or reaching a career milestone, goals have a clear endpoint. Once achieved, they’re complete.

Values, however, are not about achieving something specific or reaching a finish line. They’re guiding principles that shape how we show up in every moment, regardless of the circumstances. Unlike goals, values are always available to us—they are ongoing, ever-present, and not dependent on a particular outcome.

When core values aren't transformed into qualities to live by, we may find ourselves chasing goals instead of living according to our values.

Turning Values into Actionable Qualities

Let me share a personal example to highlight the difference between core values and actionable qualities. One of my core values has always been "health and fitness." However, this value didn’t always serve as a clear guide for my everyday behavior. Over the years, I set many goals to support this value—running a half marathon, committing to Pilates four times a week, and so on. But I found that these goals were only effective when I was actively working toward them. Once the goal was achieved, my focus would shift, and the consistency of my daily actions would waver. The value of "health and fitness" was important, but it was too broad and abstract to consistently guide my everyday behaviour.

Here’s where the reframe becomes powerful.  Instead of viewing health and fitness as something to strive for, I began to focus on the qualities of being healthy and fit that I wanted to embody each day. I reframed "health and fitness" into the qualities of being 'active,' 'disciplined,' and 'self-respecting.' This subtle shift helped me integrate movement, mindful eating, and discipline into my daily routine—not as tasks to achieve, but as a lifestyle I actively live. By embodying these qualities, health became not just something I wanted but something I practiced through my actions every day.

Another example comes from my core value of ‘family.’ I deeply value my relationships with loved ones, but I asked myself, how can I truly live this value? For me, it’s about showing up with love and being present. These qualities help me transform the broad concept of ‘family’ into something actionable, guiding me to be more intentional in my relationships.

So while my core values include health, fitness, and family, the qualities that truly guide my actions are more specific: being active, disciplined, self-respecting, loving, and present. These qualities serve as practical, actionable reminders that help me stay grounded in how I want to show up every day and ensure that I am actually living a values-based life. 

Living Your Values Daily

The beauty of values is that you don’t have to wait for everything to be aligned or for the "right moment" to begin living according to your values. Values are always available to us, no matter what’s happening in our lives. You can choose to act in alignment with your values at any moment. Unlike goals, values don’t depend on external validation or achievement. They are within your control. 

Take a Moment to Reflect

Ok, now that we’ve explored the power of values, let’s put this into action. To help you turn your core values into actionable qualities that will guide your daily decisions and behaviors, start by asking yourself the following questions. These will help you pinpoint your core values, then reframe them into the qualities you want to embody each day.

• What are the things that matter most to you in life?
  (These are your core values—what truly drives you, like health, family, beauty, freedom, creativity, etc.)

• When you think about these core values, how do you want to show up in your daily life?
  (This will help you shift from thinking about values as ideals to considering the qualities you want to embody, like being active, present, disciplined, creative etc.)

• What actions or behaviors best reflect these qualities?
  (For example, if “health” is important to you, the quality might be “active” or “self-respecting,” and the actions might include regular movement or mindful eating.)

• How can you integrate these qualities into your routine starting today?
  (This step is about making your values practical—what small actions can you take right now to embody these qualities?)

• How will you measure if you’re living in alignment with these qualities?
  (Ask yourself how you’ll know you’re living these values in your everyday actions—whether it’s through journaling, reflecting, or checking in with yourself weekly.)

No matter what this year holds, your values will always be there to guide you. They are your foundation—your inner compass—ensuring that no matter where life takes you, you are showing up in a way that truly matters to you.