Your Values Hierarchy: The Decision-Making Framework
How to identify your core values and use them as a decision-making compass when facing difficult choices.
Your Values Hierarchy: The Decision-Making Framework
When facing difficult decisions, your values hierarchy acts as an internal compass. Most people know their values intellectually but haven't ranked them, leading to internal conflict and poor decisions.
Identifying Your Core Values
The Peak Experience Method
Think of your most fulfilling moments. What values were being honored?
The Frustration Method
Your biggest frustrations often reveal violated values. What makes you angriest?
The Admiration Test
People you deeply respect likely embody values you hold dear.
Creating Your Hierarchy
The Tournament Method
- List your top 10 values
- Compare them in pairs: "If I had to choose, which matters more?"
- Keep score and rank them
- Your top 5 become your hierarchy
Common Values to Consider
- Freedom: Autonomy, flexibility, independence
- Growth: Learning, improvement, challenge
- Impact: Contribution, making a difference
- Security: Stability, predictability, safety
- Connection: Relationships, community, love
- Excellence: Quality, mastery, achievement
- Adventure: Novelty, exploration, risk
- Authenticity: Being true to yourself
Using Your Hierarchy
Decision Filter
When facing choices, ask: "Which option best honors my top values?"
Trade-off Resolution
When values conflict, your hierarchy tells you which to prioritize.
Life Design
Structure your career, relationships, and lifestyle around your core values.
Common Pitfalls
Inherited Values
Distinguishing between values you chose vs. values imposed by family/society.
Situational Values
Values can shift with life stages. Review your hierarchy annually.
Values vs. Preferences
Values are deep principles. Preferences are surface-level likes/dislikes.
Practical Application
Career Decisions
Job offers, career changes, and business opportunities all benefit from values-based analysis.
Relationship Choices
Partner selection, friendship investments, and family dynamics.
Daily Prioritization
When everything seems urgent, values help you choose what's actually important.
"When you know your values and rank them, decisions become clearer and regrets become rarer."
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