
My favorite is the Enneagram personality test because the results describe your personality traits and motivations in the context of ideal circumstances and stressful situations, which can give you a more holistic look at who you are.

One of the best is through formal psychological assessments. There are a number of ways to figure out what your values are. If you take the time to identify your values and find that helping others is one of them, but money isn’t high on your list, that makes your decision to work at the nonprofit a bit easier. One is a high-paying corporate job and the other is a job working at a nonprofit with a reasonable, but lower, salary. Understanding your “why” will allow you to make choices that align directly with the things you care about - choices that will keep you fulfilled longer term.įor example, let’s say you’re trying to decide between two jobs that you’ve been offered. ” That is, they can help you define why a certain decision feels more meaningful to you than another. What are values? They’re simply defined as what really matters to you, or your “why. Once you’ve connected with your emotions, you’re ready for the next step: consciously identifying your values. Keep looking for different careers until you find something that is in alignment with your emotions. If you don’t come up with anything that elicits positive emotions, go back to the drawing board. If, on the other hand, you feel happiness or excitement, that’s an indicator that what you’re considering might be a good decision. What feelings come up? If you feel anger, sadness, or even fear and anxiety when you’re looking at the choices on your list, consider those red flags. Brainstorm and jot down ideas of different careers you’re considering. So, think about the kind of work you’re doing now, or the kind of work you’re planning to do. Your emotions are connected to who you are at your core and can provide important insights about your identity and the values that may be driving your actions but that are also, at times, beyond your conscious awareness. Think of it this way: When you’re faced with an important decision, what’s the first thing that happens in your mind and your body? Usually, before logic kicks in, you’ll experience a strong emotion.

Your feelings can help you discern this, even if you haven’t consciously named what those values are. If you want to find a fulfilling career, it needs to align with your values. Use this five-step framework to narrow down your options and focus on what’s important. Luckily, there are actions you can take to help you figure out what’s right for you. But the path to finding that work isn’t always clear. We all spend a huge amount of time at work, and we all want (and deserve) to love what we do. Picking your college major, choosing the perfect career, trying to decide if you should leave your job and move to a new one - decisions like these can feel daunting.

Understanding your values will allow you to make choices that align directly with the things you care about.

