Values

A few of my friends and I have recently done a simple exercise: write down our top ten values. You start from a list of almost four hundred and narrow down to the ten that feel most important to you.

I found the process surprisingly clarifying. Having to pick out the concepts that I value forced me to make fine distinctions between words with nearby shades of meaning. The exercise was difficult and felt like a meaningful act of self-expression.

My friend, after writing down his values, quit his job and moved across the country. Writing down my values helped me much more confidently make a life decision that challenged my sense of self.

Here are my top ten values (not in any particular order):

Curiosity
Creativity
Passion
Playfullness
Humor
Irreverence
Decisiveness
Meticulousness
Perceptiveness
Love

You don't have to do it now, but maybe when you're in a knot over a decision or just feeling a bit contemplative, you can come back here and do the exercise. Below is a list of 445 values. To narrow down, you can click the 'X' next to each one to move it to the bottom of the list.

Abundance
Acceptance
Accessibility
Accomplishment
Accountability
Accuracy
Achievement
Acknowledgement
Activeness
Adaptability
Adoration
Adroitness
Adventure
Advocacy
Affection
Affluence
Aggressiveness
Agility
Alertness
Altruism
Ambition
Amusement
Animal wellbeing
Anticipation
Appreciation
Approachability
Art
Articulate-ness
Assertiveness
Athleticism
Attentiveness
Attractiveness
Audacity
Authenticity
Authority
Autonomy
Availability
Awareness
Awe
Balance
Beauty
Being the best
Belonging
Benevolence
Bliss
Boldness
Bravery
Brilliance
Buoyancy
Calmness
Camaraderie
Candor
Capability
Care
Carefulness
Celebrity status
Certainty
Challenge
Charity
Chastity
Cheerfulness
Citizenship
Clarity
Cleanliness
Clear-mindedness
Cleverness
Closeness
Comfort
Commitment
Community
Compassion
Completion
Composure
Concentration
Confidence
Conformity
Congruency
Connection
Consciousness
Consistency
Contentment
Continuity
Contribution
Control
Conviction
Conviviality
Coolness
Cooperation
Cordiality
Correctness
Courage
Courtesy
Craftiness
Creativity
Credibility
Cunning
Curiosity
Daring
Decisiveness
Decorum
Dedication
Deference
Delight
Democracy
Depth
Decisiveness
Design
Desire
Determination
Development
Devotion
Devoutness
Dexterity
Dignity
Diligence
Direction
Directness
Discipline
Discovery
Discretion
Diversity
Dominance
Dreaming
Drive
Duty
Dynamism
Eagerness
Economy
Ecstasy
Education
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Elation
Elegance
Eloquence
Empathy
Encouragement
Endurance
Energy
Enjoyment
Entertainment
Enthusiasm
Entrepreneurship
Environment
Equality
Equanimity
Excellence
Excitement
Exhilaration
Expectancy
Expediency
Experience
Expertise
Exploration
Expressiveness
Extravagance
Extroversion
Exuberance
Fairness
Faith
Fame
Family
Fascination
Fashion
Fearlessness
Feelings
Ferocity
Fidelity
Fierceness
Financial stability
Financial independence
Firmness
Fitness
Flexibility
Flow
Fluency
Focus
Fortitude
Forgiveness
Frankness
Freedom
Friendliness
Friendship
Frugality
Fun
Future generations
Gallantry
Generosity
Gentility
Giving/giving back
Glory
Grace
Gratitude
Gregariousness
Groundedness
Growth
Guidance
Harmony
Health
Healthy longevity
Heart
Hedonism
Helpfulness
Heroism
Holiness
Home
Honesty
Hopefulness
Hospitality
Human rights
Humility
Humor
Imagination
Impact
Impartiality
Improvement
Independence
Individuality
Industry
Influence
Ingenuity
Inner harmony
Innovation
Inquisitiveness
Insightfulness
Inspiration
Integrity
Intensity
Intelligence
Intensity
Interconnectedness
Intimacy intrepidness
Introversion
Intuition
Intuitiveness
Intuitiveness
Inventiveness
Investing
Joy
Judiciousness
Justice
Keenness
Kindness
Knowledge
Lawfulness
Legacy
Leadership
Learning
Liberation
Liberty
Liveliness
Logic
Longevity
Looking good
Love
Loyalty
Majesty
Making a difference
Mastery
Maturity
Meditation
Meekness
Mellowness
Mentorship
Meticulousness
Mindfulness
Modesty
Motivation
Multicultural
Music
Mysteriousness
Nationalism
Nature
Neatness
Nerve
Obedience
Open-mindedness
Openness
Optimism
Order
Organization
Originality
Outlandishness
Outrageousness
Parenting
Passion
Peace
Perceptiveness
Perfection
Perkiness
Perseverance
Persistence
Persuasiveness
Philanthropy
Piety
Playfulness
Pleasantness
Pleasure
Poise
Polish
Political reform
Politics
Popularity
Potency
Power
Practicality
Pragmatism
Precision
Preparedness
Presence
Present focused
Privacy
Protectiveness
Proactivity
Process
Productivity
Professionalism
Prosperity
Prudence
Punctuality
Purity
Purpose
Quality
Rationality
Realism
Reason
Reasonableness
Recognition
Recreation
Refinement
Reflection
Relationship
Relaxation
Reliability
Religiousness
Reputation
Resilience
Resolution
Responsibility
Resolve
Resourcefulness
Respect
Rest
Restraint
Reverence
Revolution
Richness
Rigor
Risk taking
Ritual
Sacredness
Sacrifice
Safety
Sagacity
Saintliness
Sanguinity
Satisfaction
Security
Self-control
Self-direction
Selflessness
Self-respect
Self-reliance
Sensitivity
Sensuality
Serenity
Service
Sexuality
Sharing
Shrewdness
Significance
Silence
Silliness
Simplicity
Sincerity
Skillfulness
Stimulation
Sobriety
Solidarity
Solitude
Social life
Soundness
Speed
Spirit
Spirituality
Spontaneity
Spunk
Stability
Status
Stealth
Steampunk
Stewardship
Stillness
Strength
Structure
Success
Wittiness
Support
Wonder
Supremacy
Youthfulness
Surprise
Zeal
Sustainability
Sympathy
Synergy
Talent
Teamwork
Temperance
Thankfulness
Thoroughness
Thoughtfulness
Thrift
Tidiness
Timeliness
Tolerance
Tradition
Tranquility
Transcendence
Travel
Trust
Trustworthiness
Truth
Understanding
Unflappability
Uniqueness
Unity
Usefulness
Utility
Valor
Variety
Victory
Vigor
Virtue
Vision
Vitality
Vivacity
Vulnerability
Warmth
Watchfulness
Wealth
Wholeheartedness
Willfulness
Winning
Wisdom