The following list of values were
taken partially from psychologist, Abraham Maslow's
study of persons who led psychologically healthy lives, partly from a list of
values from The Leadership Dimension, and from couples who added to the list in
ReCreating Marriage.
Achievement: To accomplish
something of importance, to have and strive for high standards, to undertake
difficult projects such as business development, scientific research or
artistic creation; to contribute
something valuable to the community such as an improved health or educational
system.
Adventure: To seek
activities that contain some unpredictability and risk in work or physical
activities such as traveling off the beaten path, meeting people who are
unusual for you or engaging in activities you have never tried; extending your experience in new activities,
places, and conditions.
Beauty: To seek experiences
which elicit a perception of vitality, simplicity, richness, wholeness,
perfection, and uniqueness; to go to
places where beauty is commonly found, such as in nature, museums, concerts,
architecture, poetry, literature, and other creative expressions; to create beauty in your personal life and
surroundings.
Competition: To enjoy
adversarial situations in which you strive to win physically, intellectually,
or verbally; to enjoy being a spectator
or participant in work or games where strategy or debate defeat other players
such as trial law, scientific argument, business deals, board games, sports
activities or political campaigns.
Completion: To set goals and
single-mindedly work on tasks until they are completed; to conquer frustration, and avoid distraction
and interruption until the experience is finished and nothing is missing.
Cooperation: To value
participating with mutual effort in work, marriage, and family; to create team spirit by developing common
goals, make group plans to accomplish those goals, and negotiate differences.
Creativity: To create
something new through expression of art, science or ideas; to live in a way that reflects your unique
style and capabilities such as expressive dress, home decorating or
cooking; to deeply appreciate creativity
in others by collecting art, listening to music or reading creative works.
Deference: To hold in high
esteem and seek the advice of elder family members, persons in higher status or
authority at work, civic or religious leaders;
to follow traditions of your family or community.
Economic Security: To avoid
financial risk by having predictable ways of making and keeping money; to have money for emergencies such as illness
or loss of work; to set aside money in a
safe place for your future.
Education: To enhance your
knowledge and wisdom by learning; to
read for information, talk with knowledgeable people, take classes or attend
seminars; to be educated through
obtaining college degrees or training.
Effortlessness: To live
without strain, striving, or difficulty;
to live in flow and harmony with your surroundings; to seek experiences where your natural
inclinations are in sync with your environment.
Family: To make time with
your spouse, children, parents, siblings, and extended family a priority by
participating in family activities, traditions, and celebrations; to arrange care for family members in
need; to take pride in family history,
symbols, and accomplishments.
Freedom: To make your own decisions about what you
will do or say; to enjoy jobs or
relationships which will support your doing what you feel like doing, such as
self-employment or being the boss; to
express yourself without concern about other people's opinions.
Friendship: To create close
relationships with people by spending time in conversation and activities which
build a bond; to share life experiences
and deeper feelings with others; to help
friends when they are in need.
Health: To develop habits
which will promote physical and mental well-being such as a healthy diet,
exercise, and management of stress; to
gain knowledge about health through reading, conversations, and education, to
avoid hazardous activities such as smoking or abuse of drugs or alcohol; to seek medical assistance when appropriate.
Helpfulness: To meet the
needs of other people, your children or spouse;
to assist others when they have problems; to help the less fortunate; to give aid to
the poor, sick or hurt.
Integrity: To have strong
principles and try to live by them; to
be trusted to keep your word; to do what
you think is right even if you are uncomfortable doing it; to tell the truth.
Insight: To seek to
understand people's feelings, thoughts, and behavior through observation,
empathy, and knowledge; to read and
educate yourself about human behavior;
to realize the motives behind behavior;
to reflect on yourself and gain self-awareness through the feedback of
others, retreats or workshops.
Justice: To seek decisions,
policies, and social structures that are fair for everyone; to be deeply moved by violations to yourself
and others; to participate in community
or legislative activities which promote justice.
Order: To regulate your life
through organized planning of time and things;
to predict and control your daily routines; to have a neat, uncluttered work and living
space; to enjoy working with or
organizing people in systems which flow efficiently and smoothly.
Performance: To be center of
attention by entertaining others with humor or stories, dance, acrobatics,
music, speeches, or other theatrical abilities;
to enjoy being on stage or in front of family or friends.
Playfulness: To enjoy life,
amusement, humor, exuberance, and fun;
to create games and play them for fun more than for winning; to enjoy telling jokes or other kinds of
humor; to seek out experiences and
people for fun.
Pleasure: To seek the
gratifying and sensuous aspects of life;
to spend time and money on activities that create relaxation, diversion,
and freedom from the usual stress and tension;
to engage in work that is enjoyable for its own sake.
Power: To influence your
family, work, or society by direct authority and control; to make family decisions yourself and be
respected for them; to be a leader or
supervisor; to make decisions that make
things happen such as owning or running a company or organization.
Responsibility: To be
accountable for success or failure of an effort; to have a strong sense of commitment to do
one's duty; to develop plans to
accomplish goals; to have other people
depend on you for their welfare.
Self-expression: To express
yourself spontaneously; to seek places
and relationships where self-expression is supported; to seek experiences of full, vivid, and
selfless concentration; to live with the
passion of intense experiences.
Self-sufficiency: To not
need anything beyond what you can create yourself; to seek those places where you can be
self-contained; to develop your identity
to diminish dependency on responses from other people.
Sexuality: To have sexual
attraction be a focus of attention; to
spend time and effort developing a vigorous and fulfilling sexual relationship
with your partner; to behave and dress
in a way that appeals to the opposite sex;
to enjoy sexual scenes in movies or books.
Simplicity: To pursue the
essential nature of life, what is clear and distinct, only that which is necessary; to avoid clutter in time spent and in
personal living space.
Spirituality: To participate
in prayer or meditation in which you feel in contact with God, the Divine, or
wholeness of the universe; to belong to
a congregation of believers of your religion;
to live your life following religious beliefs; to seek harmony and happiness by reflecting
on the deeper meaning of life.
Support: To give or receive
appreciation, empathy, and encouragement;
to be able to depend on others for affection, kindness, and
assistance; to avoid criticism or harsh,
negative emotional contact.
Truth: Searching to
understand how things really are; to say
openly what is true for you; to honor
other people's sharing of their perspectives;
to take from various points of view and transcend the contradictions.
Wealth: To have more money
than you need for security and necessities;
to enjoy ownership and control of a lot of money; to gain skill in managing and accumulating
money; to have a lifestyle containing
expensive homes, automobiles, entertainment, clothes, and travel.
