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Aligning with Your Core Values for a More Purposeful Life

January 03, 20253 min read

In life, we often fall into the trap of thinking, "When I achieve X, I'll be happy." Whether it's graduating, landing a dream job, or reaching a career milestone, we wait for circumstances to change so we can feel fulfilled. But here's the truth: change starts within us. When we align our daily choices with our core values, life feels more meaningful and manageable.

What Are Core Values?

Core values represent what is most important to you—your sense of worth and priorities in life. These values are shaped by your unique DNA and life experiences. There are no "better" or "worse" values, only those that resonate deeply with who you are.

For example, my personal values of integrity and nonviolence guide how I interact with the world. They stem from my upbringing and my belief that every person has significance and worth. However, I've also learned that even values that serve us can have drawbacks. For instance, rigid adherence to integrity sometimes makes me less flexible in seeing other perspectives.

How to Discover Your Core Values

If you're unsure what your values are, it’s worth exploring them. You can:

Living in Alignment

Knowing your values is only half the equation—you also need to align your life with them. Here’s how:

  • Make Values-Based Decisions: Use your values as a filter for every decision. For instance, if "Family" is a top value, ask yourself how a new job or project will impact your time with loved ones.

  • Reevaluate Goals: Do your current goals reflect what truly matters to you? Or are they rooted in someone else’s definition of success?

  • Set Boundaries: When you know what you stand for, it’s easier to say "no" to things that don’t align.

When Values and Reality Clash

Let’s be real—life isn’t always perfectly aligned with our values. We all have responsibilities and constraints that might pull us away from our ideal path.

But even in those moments, small shifts can make a big difference.

  • Can you tweak your approach to make it more meaningful?

  • Can you find ways to honor your values in other areas of life?

The Magic of Alignment

Living in alignment with your values doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but it guarantees a meaningful one. When your actions reflect your values, even challenges feel purposeful, and achievements feel fulfilling.

So, take a moment today to ask yourself:

  • What are my core values?

  • Am I living in alignment with them?

  • What’s one small shift I can make this week to bring my life closer to what I value most?

The Big Question

As Karen Allen said: "I want every day of life to be wonderful, fascinating, interesting, creative. And what am I going to do to make that happen?"

This is your opportunity to take control of your life. Reflect on what you value, align your actions with those priorities, and create a life you love.

I'd love to hear thoughts - how are you incorporating your core values into your life?

Want a deeper dive? Watch the video HERE.

core valuesintentional livingalignmentpriorities
 Tara has spent over 26+ years in leadership development leading a team of women across the nation. She holds a degree in theater, has a background in improvisation and is both Counseling Practitioner and REBT certified.  She is the founder of Hey Girl, You Can  a community of 45K+ women from around the world. Tara is a sought after Top 5 TEDx speaker, a TEDx Play Series Performer, the Author of Making Cancer Fun: A Parent's Guide (Amazon #1 New Release), and has been featured on MSNBC, GMA, 5280 & Reader’s Digest to name a few. She is a contributing author on Every Entrepreneur’s Guide to Running your Own Business, a contributor to Conquer Magazine: The Patient’s Voice, and can be heard on podcasts worldwide.  Get your FREE 5 Days to Mental Strength Challenge at www.taragonline.com

Tara Geraghty

Tara has spent over 26+ years in leadership development leading a team of women across the nation. She holds a degree in theater, has a background in improvisation and is both Counseling Practitioner and REBT certified. She is the founder of Hey Girl, You Can a community of 45K+ women from around the world. Tara is a sought after Top 5 TEDx speaker, a TEDx Play Series Performer, the Author of Making Cancer Fun: A Parent's Guide (Amazon #1 New Release), and has been featured on MSNBC, GMA, 5280 & Reader’s Digest to name a few. She is a contributing author on Every Entrepreneur’s Guide to Running your Own Business, a contributor to Conquer Magazine: The Patient’s Voice, and can be heard on podcasts worldwide. Get your FREE 5 Days to Mental Strength Challenge at www.taragonline.com

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