Naming and Ranking Your Own Values
Write down the handful of things you actually care about, then force a ranking by testing them against a situation where two of them cannot both win. The ranking is the useful part, not the list.
What a learner can do afterwards
- List five values in their own words and give a real example of each from the past year
- Take a situation where two of their values pull against each other (loyalty to a friend against telling the truth) and say which one wins for them, with a reason
- Point at a past choice that went against their stated ranking and say what that tells them about the ranking
1 · Read
Write the handful of things you care about in your own words. Then attach a real example from your past year to each, since a value without an example is only a slogan.
Take loyalty to a friend pulling against telling the truth. Say which one wins for you and give the reason, since the ranking is the useful part, not the list.
Now hunt for a past choice that broke your stated ranking. Ask what that tells you: either the ranking needs fixing or that value was never truly yours.
Keep it to about five values. More than that and every conflict ends in a tie, which teaches nothing.
List your values with real examples, force them to fight, and let the winner order stand.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.