“If confidence is in part defined by honesty with yourself, then get honest about what you value” – Core Confidence 

Think about what it feels like when you are unclear about what you want. When you can’t name or explain your intentions or the direction you are heading. In this state, making decisions seems impossible. We zig-zag between options with little to no confidence in the direction we want to take. This is an indication that we need to get clear on our values. Understanding what matters most to us is a process that cannot be overlooked when you choose to reconnect with your Core Confidence. 

What it means to be ‘clear’ about our values

Compare the uncertainty (the zig-zagging) with someone who is clear about their values. Someone who knows precisely what is important to them in the context of their career and life. This person can readily articulate the type of work environment that inspires them, find alignment between their personal and organisational values and openly share their career aspirations. When an important decision needs to be made, they can assess their options against their values and goals and use this framework to make informed choices in all areas of life.

This does not mean that decisions come easy and without compromise. On the contrary, a person with clarity makes real choices with both conviction and acceptance. They can acknowledge what they are deciding, why they are choosing to do it and what they are saying no to to achieve those goals. 

Values defined

Values are important and enduring personal beliefs or ideals about what is good and desirable, and what is not. Typically values are short words or phrases and can be influenced by family, friends, spirituality, geography, economics, media, among others.

Values can change throughout the course of our lives. Think back to your 20-year-old self; your values could have centred around freedom, travel and growth. Whereas now they may be primarily focused on family, and include things such as flexibility, security and stability. Getting clear on your values is significant as they directly impact how you experience the world and provide clarity for your decisions. 

What do you value?

Reconnecting with your Core Confidence is not a linear process; wherever you are on your confidence journey, knowing what you value is essential as this is where you can take aligned action. Aligned action is action that honours your values, skills and future self. 

Going deeper 

One of the best ways to understand your career values is to reflect on and write about what specific values mean and why they are important to you. The reflection process can be surprising as you often uncover connections and meaning when journaling that may not emerge in a more structured approach. 

The impact of getting honest with yourself

There is a direct and powerful link between clarity and confidence:

  • When things get tough or you feel threatened. Knowing your values helps you maintain the motivation to continue on (and even risk rejection or failure) because your values are worth it. 
  • When opportunities are present. Knowing your values helps you identify those worth pursuing and take action, even if it feels like a stretch or a little scary.
  • When you need to set boundaries. Knowing your values helps you say “no” to what is less important. With so many competing priorities, we can have it all – but we can’t have it all at the same time. 

It’s hard and – we must learn to say no to some things or as we prefer to say “not yet” or “not today”.

Be patient

The process towards clarity does not happen overnight, nor is it the only component of Core Confidence. Unpacking what lights us up in our career and life (and using this insight to take aligned action) is a necessary and useful starting point.