Not Sure What You Value Most? This Will Help.

There are lots of books out there that talk about living with purpose, but sometimes it’s hard to name what your individual purpose actually is. Before setting goals or making big life changes, it helps to pause and ask: What really matters to me?

It’s a surprisingly tough question — especially in a world that’s always rushing us toward the next thing. But if we want to live intentionally, especially in retirement or during a life reset, we need to slow down and get clear on what drives us at a deeper level.

That’s where the Personal Values Discovery Worksheet comes in.

Why Your Values Matter

Your values are like an inner compass. They quietly shape the way you make decisions, how you spend your time, and what you say ‘yes’ and often more importantly ‘no’ to. When life feels busy or unbalanced, it’s often because we’ve drifted from those core values.

This worksheet is designed to help you rediscover them.

You’ll work through a series of thoughtful prompts that help you reflect on your life experiences, the people you admire, what brings joy or discomfort, and the things you consistently come back to. These aren’t “quick fix” questions — they’re designed to help you listen to your life, to find out what really matters.

How to Use the Worksheet

• Set aside a bit of quiet space — maybe with a cuppa, a walk beforehand, or some peaceful music.
• Write freely — and write honestly. This part matters more than you might think. It’s tempting to write what sounds good, what others might expect from you, or what aligns with past versions of yourself. But this process only works if you’re brutally honest with what stirs you now — even if it feels surprising or uncomfortable. Don’t write to impress anyone. Write to understand yourself.

If your happy place is a muddy bike ride, a pottering day in the shed, or an evening meal with family and a glass of wine — write that. If injustice or beauty or stillness moves you then name it. These are the moments that reveal your true values.

• Look for patterns. When you’ve completed the questions, notice which themes keep coming up. Where do your energy, peace, and convictions naturally lead?
• Capture your key values in the summary section — these will be especially helpful if you’re completing a V2MOM, where the Values section guides how you live out your Vision.

Whether you’re building your own V2MOM, planning for a more rooted retirement, or just feeling the pull to live with more intention, this worksheet is a great place to begin.

Download the Worksheet

You can find the free printable version in the Templates & Worksheet  section of the site. It’s part of a growing collection of tools to help others reflect, reset, and live more meaningfully.

Final Thought

This isn’t about reinventing yourself. It’s about realigning with who you’ve always been — and letting that truth shape your next chapter. Slow down, listen in, and start with what matters most.