Identifying Core Values: When To Reassess Yours & How To Refine Them
Values change over time just like you do. It is natural to revisit your core values and refine them when needed—it is all part of the identifying core values process. It may be difficult, however, to know where to start.
It’s perfectly normal to wonder when to revisit your values and what it means to update or refine them. I initially struggled with this part when identifying my core values, and a bit of guidance is sometimes all you need.
Why reassess and refine your values?
Updating your values when needed can assure you that:
You are actively engaging with what makes you you, and there is no braver act than prioritising your wellbeing;
You are on top of the parts of life that no longer serve you, so you can focus on the parts that do; and
You remain present and rooted within yourself, and embrace the importance of your growth and wellbeing in the face of adversity.
So, for this post we’ve broken down some steps and exercises to help you reassess and refine for your values. I’ve also shared an experience of mine, as an example of what swapping values out can look like, because I know that this part can be a little ambiguous or confusing to begin with.
Here’s what to expect for this post:
Values Naturally Change Over Time
It is very normal for values to change over time. It may not be all of them at once. It may be just one value or a few. It’s not unusual either, that at one point the majority, or all, of your values change too.
This shift is not unheard of because your values change as you do. Just like you grow, your values grow with you and they guide you for the season of life you are in.
As we’ve said in all of our other blog posts: you were always made to grow, just like every other aspect of your life, and your values are no exception.
Your values are guide posts for feeling your safest, most peaceful, most content, and most authentic in any season of life.
Real life example: a shift in my values
At the start of 2024, one of my values was ‘Acceptance’.
I chose this value for many reasons:
I left my midwifery career for my wellbeing and had to change a lot about my life that I never thought I’d have to do;
The importance of embracing who I really was meant accepting the changes necessary to live a healthy life in alignment; and
I was also grieving over the passing of my Auntie Lydia—my favourite person in the world.
These being the main 3 reasons, I selected ‘Acceptance’ to capture many other values that potentially fell under each of these reasons.
Acceptance was the overarching theme and it was something I cared a lot about for my wellbeing at the time.
In June 2024, before the 6-month mark, I realised ‘Acceptance’ no longer aligned with me. Not because it was no longer relevant, but because it was the least applicable at that point in time. So, I swapped it out for something I aligned with before my 6-month Values Date with myself.
It was a very empowering and wholesome moment for me when I’d realised what it meant: I had grown so much living out my value of ‘Acceptance’ that it was no longer a priority. I was healing.
That’s not to say that ‘Acceptance’ won’t ever be a value again, but it was time for something more aligned and relevant. I still smile when I think about that moment.
Hopefully this personal example provides some reassurance if you are indecisive of your values, or are wondering why and how they change.
For me, my values have meant keeping myself healthy, connected and resilient. I know I’m not the only one with these grounding feelings about living more intentionally.
It is our hope, at Little Lydia, to help you feel even the slightest bit more confident or, better yet, more like your true self. Just remember that your health, wellbeing and authenticity are paramount. And you deserve all of the goodness you could ever want. Your values are worth the reassessment and refinement. Your wellbeing is worth it. You are worth it.
When To Reassess Your Values & Signs It’s Time To Refine
Keeping your values in sight and close by encourages more intentional decision-making and action. This therefore keeps you aligned with your true self.
With your values consistently in sight or close by, you have regular opportunities to identify when they no longer align with you.
It is good practice to view your values as often as you can (e.g., daily), as they prompt mindfulness and intention in your day-to-day actions.
For example, having your values visible while planning means you can plan your schedule, finances, or travels in alignment with your values. Having them visible while journalling also prompts self-reflection on your alignment more regularly.
How regularly should you reassess your values?
It really comes down to what you find is best for you. Reviewing your values at least every 6 months, however, ensures you have consistent times of re-alignment and reminders and a good time span to live out your values. So every 6 months is recommended.
Make a Values Date out of reassessing your values every 6 months! It’s a date to have with yourself where you get to connect with who you are again, even if your values haven’t changed.
Have fun with it! Schedule it in. Mentally treat it like an appointment with your authenticity, but in the physical sense have an actual date with yourself!
Take yourself out to coffee to do it, or make yourself tea at home with some sweets or goodies. Do it at the beach or your favourite spot. Whatever makes it you and whatever brings it meaning, add it to your Values Date.
And show up like you would for any appointment or date. These are your values, after all. If you don’t show up for them, who will?
What if they change before 6 months?
There may be instances where you realise that one of your values is no longer aligned with you before the 6-month mark. There might be more than one. Great! This is the perfect time to review your values and this is a good sign of growth!
I’ve swapped values out between the 6-monthly Value Dates before. So, if this occasionally happens to you too, remember how empowering it is to know you are:
Actively choosing yourself and your wellbeing;
Growing as a person; and
Embracing the ever-evolving space that is your life, as daunting as that may be at times.
Remember that your values are guide posts to feeling your most peaceful, content and connected.
It’s not a bad thing if they' haven’t changed when you review them. That just means they’re still aligned with you and continue to facilitate your growth and wellbeing.
So go ahead and make that 6-monthly Values Date. If the need for change comes earlier, go for it! You can readjust your 6 month date or keep it if you want to. That’s the beauty of it all. It’s whatever works for you!
How To Reassess Your Core Values & Exercises For Adjusting Them
Reviewing your core values is as simple as looking at them and asking if they still align with you.
If they still do, no worries! Now’s a good time to reflect and journal about how they do and instances where you were most aligned with them, or a particular one, over the past 6 (or x amount of) months.
If you find that one or more no longer align with you, swap them out for ones that do. You can use the same method as when you first identified them (we have a step-by-step guide here) to then swap them out.
If you can locate journals or papers from when you previously identified your core values, these are also helpful to review, as you may have ones you noted that may better align with you now.
Exercises for updating your core values
Exercise A: One or more (but not all) values to swap out
Identify which values you wish to swap out (circle or write them down)
For each value, ask and reflect on: “Why does this value no longer apply to me?”
- Remember to celebrate your wins! I did with my psychologist when I swapped out Acceptance (from my example in Part 1 of this blog post).Identify your new/updated values using the same method used for your original ones (or our guide here) and write them on a fresh page with the remainder of your existing values.
For each updated value, ask: “Why do I align with this value now?” Then reflect on why they’re more suitable than your previous ones at present.
- This is a time to embrace the change you’ve experienced, your present-day self and feelings, and the future with your updated values.Replace your previous values with your updated list in all places you have them visible or handy.
- e.g., your journal/planner, phone photo widget or wallpaper, etc.
Exercise B: All values to swap out
First ask yourself why each of these values no longer apply to you. Really reflect on this before swapping them all out.
Ask: “Am I absolutely sure that not a single one of these apply to me now?”
- Why or why not?Follow steps 3-5 outlined in Exercise A.
Congratulations! You have now your refined values! Don’t forget to journal and reflect on how you feel right now having updated your values.
Do you feel more aligned, empowered, peaceful, light? Are you taken back by what has changed since you last did your values? Or is it nice to know how much hasn’t changed and that your values still apply now as they did before?
Reviewing your values needn’t be a daunting or dragging activity. It is not to bring up feelings like anxiety, guilt or shame—the emotions we experience when our decision or actions are misaligned with our values.
But to bring to light what values are better aligned to you and your authenticity, instead. And so you can understand why and when you feel emotions akin to misalignment, and act more intentionally and embrace who you really are.
As with any area of life, your values change as you do. You are allowed to change, grow and heal over and over. You can choose again.
- Little Lydia
Still have questions about the process?
Feel free to reach out to us here! As your authenticity’s biggest advocates, we’re always here to help you at any stage of your journey and we would love to hear from you