40 Values Checklist

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FORTY COMMON VALUES: A CHECKLIST

Values are your heart’s deepest desires for how you want to behave as a human being. They describe how you
want to treat yourself, others, and the world around you. This is not a list of “the right” values; there are no
“right” or “wrong” ones. It’s like your taste in ice cream. If you prefer chocolate but someone else prefers vanilla,
that doesn’t mean their taste is right and yours is wrong—or vice-versa. It just means you have different tastes.
So these aren’t the right or best values; they’re just to give you some ideas. And if your values aren’t listed,
there’s room at the bottom to add them.
Pick an area of life you want to enhance, improve or explore (e.g., work, education, health, leisure, parenting,
friendship, spirituality, intimate relationship). Then consider which values in the list below best complete this
sentence: In this area of my life, I want to be …
Read through the list, and if a value seems very important in this area of life, put a V by it. If it’s somewhat
important, put an S. And if it’s not that important, put an N.

In this area of my life, I want to be …


1. Accepting: open to, allowing of, or at peace with myself, others, life, my feelings, etc.
2. Adventurous: willing to create or pursue novel, risky or exciting experiences
3. Assertive: calmly, fairly and respectfully standing up for my rights and asking for what I want
4. Authentic: being genuine, real, and true to myself
5. Caring/self-caring: actively taking care of myself, others, the environment, etc.
6. Compassionate/self-compassionate: responding kindly to myself or others in pain
7. Cooperative: willing to assist and work with others
8. Courageous: being brave or bold; persisting in the face of fear, threat, or risk
9. Creative: being imaginative, inventive, or innovative
10. Curious: being open-minded and interested; willing to explore and discover
11. Encouraging: supporting, inspiring, and rewarding behavior I approve of
12. Expressive: conveying my thoughts and feelings through what I say and do
13. Focused: focused on and engaged in what I am doing
14. Fair/just: acting with fairness and justice—toward myself and others
15. Flexible: willing and able to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances
16. Friendly: warm, open, caring, and agreeable toward others
17. Forgiving: letting go of resentments and grudges toward myself or others
18. Grateful: being appreciative for what I have received
19. Helpful: giving, helping, contributing, assisting, or sharing
20. Honest: being honest, truthful, and sincere—with myself and others
21. Independent: choosing for myself how I live and what I do
22. Industrious: being diligent, hardworking, dedicated
23. Kind: being considerate, helpful, or caring—to myself or others
24. Loving: showing love, affection, or great care—to myself or others
25. Mindful/present: fully present and engaging in whatever I’m doing
26. Open: revealing myself, letting people know my thoughts and feelings
27. Orderly: being neat and organized
28. Persistent/committed: willing to continue, despite problems or difficulties
29. Playful: being humorous, fun-loving, light-hearted
30. Protective: looking after the safety and security of myself or others
31. Respectful/self-respectful: treating myself or others with care and consideration
32. Responsible: being trustworthy, reliable, and accountable for my actions
33. Skillful: doing things well, utilizing my knowledge, experience, and training
34. Supportive: being helpful, encouraging, and available—to myself or others
35. Trustworthy: being loyal, honest, faithful, sincere, responsible, and reliable
36. Trusting: willing to believe in the honesty, sincerity, reliability, or competence of another
37. Other:
38. Other:
39. Other:
40. Other:

© Russ Harris, 2021 www.ImLearningACT.com

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