Define Your Values, Find Your Direction: Why Clarity Beats Motivation Every Time
"Living with integrity means behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values." – Barbara De Angelis
If you’re feeling lost, unmotivated, or constantly second-guessing your creative choices, let’s pause for a second. It might not be a discipline problem. It might be a values problem.
When you don’t know what matters most to you, everything feels confusing. Every decision turns into an internal debate. Every opportunity feels like a maybe. You say yes to too much, feel guilty about what you skip, and spend more time spinning than moving.
All because you have a lack of clarity.
Defining your core values is how you build your internal compass. It’s how you stop drifting, start deciding, and finally feel confident in the direction you’re heading.
Let’s break down why this matters, and how to do it.
1. Values Are Your Internal GPS
Without clearly defined values, you end up living reactively, chasing other people’s expectations, following trends, and doing things because you “should.”
That’s a recipe for burnout and regret.
When you know your core values (the handful of principles that matter most to you) you stop chasing every shiny thing you see. You start making decisions that align with who you are.
Because of that, you finally get to build a creative life that feels like yours.
Takeaway: If you’re not sure what to do next, figure out what you stand for first.
2. Clarity Creates Confidence
You can’t fake confidence. But you can build it. And it all starts with clarity.
If you haven’t taken the time to define your values, you’ll always be second-guessing yourself.
When you know your values, you know why you’re saying yes or no. You know why you’re choosing the path you’re on. You can stop looking for external validation because your choices already make sense to you.
I would highly suggest writing out your values. Having vague ideas about what you stand for isn’t enough. You want concrete commitments. Once they’re on paper, they’re harder to ignore, and easier to live by.
Takeaway: When you know what you want, and why, it gives you courage.
3. Values Simplify Decision-Making
Ever waste hours overthinking a decision? That’s what happens when you don’t have a way of filtering options.
Once you define and write them out, your values are the filter. When faced with a choice, ask yourself this simple question:
“Does this align with my values?”
If yes, do it. If no, don’t. That’s it.
No endless pros-and-cons lists, no debating your worth, no wondering what other people will think.
Life gets a lot simpler when your choices match your compass.
Takeaway: Your values are the shortcut to peace of mind.
4. Living Out of Alignment Hurts
You might already have a sense of what matters to you. But if you’re not clear, you can easily act against your own values without realizing it.
And when your actions don’t match your values, you feel it. You’ll notice frustration, guilt, or an emptiness that whispers “Something’s off.”
That’s your internal system telling you it’s time to recalibrate.
Takeaway: Misalignment drains you. Clarity fuels you.
5. How to Define Your Core Values (Without Overthinking It)
You don’t need a weekend retreat or a life crisis to figure out what matters most to you. Just give yourself some quiet space and a notebook.
Try this simple process:
Reflect - Think about times in your life when you felt proud, alive, or deeply satisfied. What values were you honoring then?
Brain Dump - Write down everything that feels important. No censoring.
Refine - Narrow down your list to no more than 5 core values (ideally just 3). This can be hard, so review your list and look for themes and combine similar ones.
Prioritize - Rank them. If two ever conflict, which one wins?
Commit - Write them where you’ll see them often (journal, wall, phone, etc).
You can find long lists of values online, like those from Brené Brown, Scott Jeffrey, James Clear, or The Berkley Well-Being Institute. Your list might include things like:
Honesty
Creativity
Freedom
Growth
Integrity
Courage
What matters most is that they’re yours, and not what you think you should value.
6. The Payoff: Purpose, Direction, and Energy
When your creative work (or really anything you do) aligns with your core values, everything clicks. You stop forcing motivation because your drive comes from within.
You can stop trying to find purpose because you’re already living it.
And the best part? You start finishing more. Because you’re not pulled in ten directions anymore, just in the one that matters.
Ready to Get Clear and Start Moving with Confidence?
If you’ve been drifting, second-guessing, or feeling stuck, it’s time to define your values and design a creative life that actually fits you.
As a certified Life Coach I can help you clarify what matters and align your actions with your purpose, so you can stop spinning.
>> Book a free sample session and let’s get you aligned, confident, and moving forward.
