Reflecting Into the New Year: Discovering Your Core Values

The start of a new year always feels like an invitation to pause. Not necessarily to plan or set big goals —sometimes it’s simply a moment to reconnect with yourself, breathe, and notice how you want to live. Personally, I use this time to reflect on how I want to move through the world with more purpose and presence.

My own core values are family, service, and compassion. These guideposts help me steady myself when life pulls me in ten different directions.

Here’s a real example: My kids are begging for attention, and I’m glued to my inbox trying to answer “just one more email.” Their voices get louder… and louder… until the chaos spills over into bickering. When I remember that family is my top value, I can see what’s really being asked of me. I choose connection first. The energy softens, everyone feels seen, and the email can wait a few minutes.

Values don’t solve everything, but they do help us make choices that feel aligned and grounded.

A Core Values Exercise to Start the Year

I learned this exercise through a training with The Compassion Institute, and it has stayed with me. It’s simple, powerful, and incredibly clarifying.

Life in Thirds

Step 1:
Think about the first third of your life. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write—or share with a partner—about that time. Don’t overthink. Just let it flow. If you’re sharing with someone, they simply listen and take small notes if they want. No commenting or reacting.

Step 2:
Repeat for the second third of your life. Then again, for the most recent third.

Step 3:
If you wrote, read back through your reflections. Identify 1–2 values that show up in each life stage. If you shared, have your partner repeat back what themes or values they heard.

Step 4:
Make a list of these values and put them somewhere visible for one week. Each day, look at the list and consider how these values show up—and which ones you want to keep, adjust, or release.

Step 5:
Choose 3–5 core values that feel true to who you are today. Keep in mind: values evolve as you evolve. I like keeping mine in view daily and staying open to change.

These daily reminders can quietly brighten even the hardest days. They bring us back to what matters.

This Week’s Practice

• Take 10 minutes to journal freely about what’s most important to you.
• Read what you wrote and choose 3–5 core values.
• Write them on a note and put it somewhere you’ll see every day—bathroom mirror, kitchen sink, desk, whatever works.
• Let these values help shape how you spend your time this week.

In the Classroom & At Home

This is a beautiful activity to do with children or students:

1. Invite them to write or draw everything that makes them happy.
2. Have them share with a partner for 2 minutes while the listener only listens.
3. The listener reflects back what they heard was most important.
4. Help them narrow their list to 3–5 “values.”
   • Example: “Playing video games” might translate to friends, play, or problem-solving depending on what they love about it.

This helps kids identify what truly matters to them—beyond the hobbies or activities themselves.