A companion to The 10-Year Letter

What Matters Most to You?

Explore the values below. Notice which ones resonate, then write your top three in your book or workbook.

Explore the Values

Accountability

Taking responsibility for one's actions and their consequences.

Adaptability

The ability to adjust to new conditions or changes.

Adventure

A willingness to explore new experiences and embrace the unfamiliar.

Altruism

This is about selflessly caring for and helping others without expecting anything in return.

Ambition

A strong desire to achieve success or make a positive impact in any field.

Appreciation

Showing gratitude and recognizing the value in others and the world around us.

Authenticity

Valuing being true to oneself, authentic individuals are genuine and sincere, not only in their actions but also in their expressions and beliefs.

Awareness

Being conscious of one's environment, oneself, and others is crucial for empathy, effective communication, and understanding.

Balance

The ability to create harmony among different aspects of life, such as work, leisure, and relationships, to maintain overall well-being and stability.

Beauty

While often associated with aesthetics, beauty as a value extends to finding and appreciating beauty in various forms—nature, art, relationships, and moments in life.

Belonging

The sense of acceptance and connection within a group or community.

Bravery

The courage to face challenges, risks, and fears, often associated with strength, resilience, and the ability to confront adversity.

Brotherhood

A sense of camaraderie, solidarity, and mutual support often found within groups sharing common interests, goals, or experiences.

Caring

Showing concern and kindness towards others.

Charity

Generosity and helpfulness, especially toward the needy or suffering.

Clarity

Being clear in communication and thought. Clarity helps in effective decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding.

Collaboration

Working together cooperatively toward a common goal.

Commitment

Dedication to a cause, activity, or goal. It involves perseverance and a sense of responsibility to see things through.

Community

A sense of connection, belonging, and shared responsibility with others.

Companionship

Valuing close relationships and the presence of others for emotional support and connection.

Compassion

The ability to empathize with others and a desire to alleviate their suffering.

Connection

Prioritizing strong, meaningful relationships with others.

Consistency

The quality of being reliable and stable in one's actions or beliefs over time.

Contribution

Giving your time, abilities, or resources to make a meaningful difference.

Courage

The quality of being brave; facing fear, danger, or adversity with strength and resolve.

Creativity

The ability to think outside the box and generate innovative ideas.

Curiosity

The desire to learn and understand more, to explore and discover.

Dedication

A strong commitment to a task, project, or other endeavor.

Determination

The quality of being firm in one’s purpose and not giving up despite challenges or obstacles. Determination is often linked with perseverance and resilience.

Diligence

Consistent, careful, and persistent work or effort.

Discipline

Maintaining focus, self-control, and consistent effort over time.

Diversity

The value of recognizing, respecting, and embracing differences among people, including cultural, racial, religious, and gender diversity.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Encouragement

Supporting and uplifting others through positive words and actions.

Enthusiasm

A strong excitement and eagerness about something.

Equality

Treating everyone with fairness and without discrimination.

Equity

Valuing fairness and justice for all people.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.

Excellence

The pursuit of outstanding quality or merit in any field.

Fairness

The quality of making judgments that are free from discrimination.

Faith

This can refer to trust or confidence in a person, idea, or belief system, including religious faith. It often implies loyalty and commitment.

Family

Prioritizing the well-being, love, and development of one’s family.

Forgiveness

The act of letting go of resentment and thoughts of revenge.

Freedom

The power or right to act, speak, or think without hindrance or restraint.

Friendship

A mutual bond between people, typically characterized by trust, support, and affection.

Fun

The value of enjoying life and engaging in activities that bring joy and amusement.

Generosity

The willingness to give more of something, like time, money, or resources, than is strictly necessary or expected.

Grace

Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

Gratitude

The quality of being thankful and showing appreciation for and to return kindness.

Grit

The passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals.

Growth

The process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or spiritually.

Harmony

The state of being in agreement or concord, seeking peaceful and balanced relationships in personal and communal interactions.

Health

Valuing physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Honesty

The quality of being truthful and transparent in dealings with others.

Honor

A strong sense of ethical integrity, upholding one’s moral values, and being esteemed for one's noble qualities.

Hope

Holding onto a positive and optimistic expectation for the future, often inspiring perseverance through challenging times.

Humility

The characteristic of being modest and respectful.

Humor

The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing or comical. It is a valuable tool for coping with stress, creating bonds with others, and enhancing overall quality of life.

Impact

Desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives or the world.

Inclusion

The practice of ensuring that people feel they belong, are engaged, and connected, regardless of their background or identity.

Inclusivity

Ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, valued, and able to contribute.

Independence

The state of being self-reliant and not dependent on others.

Innovation

The act of introducing something new, whether it's an idea, method, or device. Innovation is key to progress and problem-solving in various fields.

Inquisitiveness

A strong desire to know or learn something.

Inspiration

The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially something creative or positive.

Integrity

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It's about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Intelligence

The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

Intentionality

Acting with purpose and clarity rather than by default or reaction.

Joy

The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.

Justice

The principle of being fair and reasonable.

Kindness

The quality of being friendly, considerate, and generous.

Knowledge

The understanding and information gained through experience or education.

Leadership

The action of leading a group or an organization, or the ability to do this.

Learning

The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching.

Legacy

The lasting influence of your life, choices, and actions on others.

Love

A profound and caring affection towards someone or something.

Loyalty

A strong feeling of support or allegiance.

Mastery

The comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment.

Meaning

Seeking significance and purpose in actions and choices.

Mindfulness

Being present and aware in the current moment without judgment.

Motivation

The drive or reason for people's actions, desires, and needs.

Nature

A deep appreciation and respect for the natural environment and the inherent worth of the Earth's ecosystems.

Open-mindedness

Being receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and feedback.

Openness

The quality of being open to new experiences, ideas, and changes.

Optimism

The tendency to have a positive outlook on life and to expect good outcomes.

Order

The value of having structure and organization in one's life.

Originality

The ability to think independently and creatively.

Ownership

Accepting responsibility for outcomes and learning from results.

Passion

A strong and barely controllable emotion or enthusiasm for something or about doing something.

Patience

The ability to wait calmly for something or to endure difficulties without frustration.

Peace

The absence of conflict and the presence of tranquility, harmony, and serenity.

Perseverance

The persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Playfulness

Bringing lightness, creativity, and fun into experiences.

Positivity

The practice of being optimistic in attitude, focusing on the good parts of any situation, and expecting positive outcomes.

Presence

Being fully engaged and attentive with people and tasks.

Productivity

Using time and attention to produce meaningful results.

Professionalism

Maintaining high standards of conduct and reliability.

Progress

Measuring forward movement and celebrating improvement.

Purpose

Having a sense of direction and meaning in life.

Relationship

Valuing the building and nurturing of strong, healthy connections.

Reliability

Consistency in actions and dependability.

Resilience

The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going in the face of adversity.

Resourcefulness

Being able to cope with difficult situations through imaginative and creative solutions.

Respect

Treating others with dignity and acknowledging their worth as individuals.

Responsibility

The state of being accountable for one's actions and their impact on others.

Security

The state of being free from danger or threat.

Self-awareness

Understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and patterns.

Self-control

Regulating impulses, emotions, and behaviors.

Self-discipline

The ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.

Self-respect

Holding yourself in high regard through aligned actions.

Service

The act of helping or doing work for others.

Simplicity

The quality of being plain, natural, or easy to understand.

Sincerity

The quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy.

Spirituality

Valuing connection to something greater—faith, meaning, or transcendence.

Stewardship

Responsibly managing resources entrusted to you.

Strength

The quality of being strong, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.

Success

The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.

Support

Providing help, encouragement, and presence to others.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain balance and avoid depletion of natural resources to support long-term ecological balance and future generations.

Sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune; understanding between people; common feeling.

Teamwork

The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient.

Tenacity

The quality or fact of being very determined; determination.

Thankfulness

The expression of gratitude, especially to others.

Time

Valuing time involves recognizing its importance, managing it wisely, and respecting others’ time.

Transparency

The quality of being done in an open way without secrets.

Trust

The firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Understanding

The ability to comprehend or grasp the meaning of something.

Uniqueness

The quality of being one of a kind or unlike anything else.

Unity

The state of being united or joined as a whole.

Vision

The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.

Vitality

The state of being strong and active; energy.

Wealth

Often associated with an abundance of valuable possessions or money, but it can also refer to richness in experience, knowledge, and other non-material aspects.

Well-being

The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

Wisdom

The ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.

Bring Your Values Into Your Life

Write your top three values in your book or workbook. Then choose the one you will not trade.

What does this value look like in your everyday life?