To The Core: How To Identify Your Core Values (2)

Your core values derive from 2 general factors: (1) the internal ones that God embedded within you at birth; and (2) those that have developed through external sources. The 5 outside sources include your parents, significant other adults, friends and peers, media, and life experiences.

We’ve already looked at the influence of your parents. By far they play the most significant role in the development of your core values. In this post we’ll examine the role of the other 4 sources.

Significant Other Adults
Throughout your life there have been certain adults that have greatly influenced you. Many were part of your growing up years – teachers, coaches, youth group leaders, and pastors. Who are the people in your life that impacted you the most when you were a child or teen?

As an adult, you also have been impacted by people you greatly admire. They’re not friends, but people you greatly respect – neighbors, co-workers, or someone at church. But there are also people you don’t even know personally. They may be historical, current public figures, authors, or musicians.

Ask yourself:

1. Why were these people so important to you?
2. What did they teach you about life?
3. What core value best summarize these life lesson?

Friends and Peers
You become like your friends. In fact, your character can be measured by the friends you keep. That’s why it’s so important to choose your friends wisely. “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20).

Who were your closest friends growing up? Who are your very closest friends now? Ask yourself these questions:

1. What was or is it about them that you like so much?
2. What did or have you learned from them that become part of you?
3. What core values best summarize their character qualities?

Media
Modern media greatly influences your attitudes and behaviors. The media’s influence is far reaching affecting what you say, wear, think, and do. In a sense, you are what you you choose to read, listen to, and watch. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What do you read? What do you listen to? What do you watch?
2. What have you learned and absorbed from your media exposure?
3. What core values are reflected in your life through the media?

Life Experiences
Significant life experiences greatly influence the development of your core values. These experiences may be positive or negative, but tend to be those events that have been life altering. Some examples include family of origin issues, addictions, marriage and family life, recreation,  achievements, and personal losses. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What positive and negative experiences have impacted your life?
2. Which areas of your life have you experiences your greatest successes and failures?
3. What core values have arisen from your life experiences?

In the next post will be the final one in this series. It’ll provide list of typical core values for you to use in identifying your own core values.

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