By Taylor McGrath — Founder, The Self Collective · 5 min read
Sometimes the fastest way to name your own values is to see personal values examples from real life — words in action, not just words on a page. A value like "freedom" can mean a solo Sunday morning to one woman and running her own business to another. Below you'll find 40 personal values examples grouped by life area, each with a glimpse of what it looks like in an ordinary week.
What Are Personal Values, Really?
Personal values are the qualities and priorities you consider most important — the standards you instinctively measure your life against. They're different from goals (which you achieve and finish) and different from personality traits (which describe how you are). Values describe what you're for. When your days reflect them, you feel settled; when they don't, you feel the drift. If you haven't named yours yet, start with our guide on how to find your core values.
A value isn't what you say matters — it's what your Tuesday afternoon says matters.
40 Personal Values Examples by Life Area
Self & Growth
- Authenticity — saying the true thing kindly, even when a nicer lie is easier.
- Growth — choosing the course, the book, the harder conversation.
- Courage — applying for the role before you feel 100% ready.
- Creativity — protecting one hour a week to make something just for you.
- Self-respect — leaving situations where you have to shrink.
- Curiosity — asking "what else could this mean?" before judging.
- Playfulness — dancing in the kitchen; not everything needs a purpose.
- Presence — phone in another room during dinner.
Relationships
- Family — the standing Sunday call, protected like a meeting.
- Friendship — showing up with soup, not just "let me know if you need anything".
- Loyalty — defending someone's name in the room they're not in.
- Compassion — assuming a hard day before assuming a bad person.
- Trust — keeping the small promises, always.
- Community — knowing your neighbours' names and stories.
- Generosity — giving time and credit as freely as gifts.
- Boundaries — a warm heart and a firm no, together.
Wellbeing & Home
- Health — the morning walk that happens before the day argues back.
- Calm — choosing the slower option on purpose.
- Rest — guilt-free naps and early nights as maintenance, not reward.
- Simplicity — fewer, better things; a calendar with white space.
- Nature — bare feet on grass as a weekly non-negotiable.
- Beauty — flowers on the table for no one but you.
- Gratitude — three lines in a journal before bed.
- Stability — the emergency fund and the steady routine.
Purpose & Work
- Purpose — work that still matters to you at 9pm.
- Ambition — asking for the promotion out loud.
- Independence — your own money, your own opinions.
- Excellence — doing it properly when no one is checking.
- Contribution — mentoring the woman two steps behind you.
- Freedom — designing a life you don't need a holiday from.
- Security — choosing the steady path without shame.
- Adventure — booking the trip while the courage is warm.
Character
- Integrity — your public self and private self telling the same story.
- Honesty — gentle truth over comfortable silence.
- Fairness — hearing both sides before deciding.
- Patience — letting things take the time they take.
- Accountability — "I got that wrong" without excuses.
- Grace — forgiving yourself as readily as you forgive others.
- Optimism — looking for the door, not just describing the wall.
- Faith — trusting there's a bigger picture on the foggy days.
How to Use These Personal Values Examples
Don't try to adopt all forty — that's a costume, not a compass. Read the list twice and shortlist the ten that made you feel something, then narrow to five using the grouping method in our core values list guide. From there, let one value lead each week: schedule it, spend on it, say no for it. Pair the practice with our wheel of life exercise to see which areas of your life are hungriest for attention.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Once you can see your values clearly, the next step is living them daily — that's the journey back to yourself. Join our 21-Day Challenge, or begin gently with the 7-Day Reset.
FAQs About Personal Values Examples
What are the most common personal values?
Family, health, honesty, freedom and growth appear most often — but common doesn't mean right for you. Choose resonance over popularity.
How many personal values should I have?
Three to five core values works best. More than that and they stop guiding decisions because you can't hold them all in mind.
Can I have values that seem to contradict each other?
Absolutely — adventure and security often coexist. Ranking your values tells you which one gets the casting vote when they disagree.
How do I know if a value is really mine?
Check your calendar and bank statement. If a value never shows up in your time or money, it may be inherited or aspirational rather than truly yours.
About the Founder
Taylor McGrath is the founder of The Self Collective and the creator of the 21-Day Challenge and 7-Day Reset. Through journaling, affirmations and guided self discovery, Taylor helps women reconnect with who they really are — one gentle daily practice at a time.
I'll see you soon, xo — Taylor