In the era of digital knowledge, we can easily access a myriad of voices and perspectives, whether from social media, YouTube channels, podcasts, blogs, or newsletters. Although this provides ample opportunities to promote your personal brand and expertise, it can also pose a unique challenge. It is often believed that in order to tell your story, or be a part of the online conversation, you need to have a flawlessly structured narrative, or a surface level portrayal of who you are. This can sometimes lead to a false idea that convinces you that to be seen as a thought leader, you have to adopt the language and identity that mimics those who are already in a similar field or industry.
At WritersBlok, we’ve found that it’s difficult to stay true to yourself when your foundation is not clearly defined. This is why, before any content is created, it’s important to know what your core values are. By understanding what matters to you, it will help to guide you in your life, including the stories you choose to tell, and the conversations you wish to contribute to.
How to Choose Your Core Values
It’s helpful to pause for some introspection into who you really are. When choosing your principles, think about why they are important to you. Core values are personal; they are heavily influenced by your life experiences and what you actually care about. They also provide a basis for how you move through the world. Your morals should never be compromised for short-term gain or convenience. And to ensure this, they shouldn’t be rooted in what others are doing, or what’s currently trending. Your beliefs should be authentic to who you are and should remain consistent. Of course, as you grow and stretch yourself throughout your life, your values may slightly change, but for the most part, they should be unwavering.
When people talk about their values, you may hear them list words like, loyalty or commitment. But what do those words really mean? Knowing your values isn’t about simply throwing around empty terms with no substance to back them up. For them to be truly anchored in who you are, it’s important that you define them. If you need help in this area, here is an exercise to get you started:
1. Write down the top 3-5 values that you want to be known for. Some descriptors to help you brainstorm are:
| Compassionate | Ethical | Healthy | Playful |
| Courageous | Curious | Humorous | Supportive |
| Empathic | Proficient | Honorable | Wise |
2. Write down your own definition for each of these descriptors. Doing so allows you to make sure you are clear on what each one means to you.
3. Once you’ve defined these values and how they align with who you are, look at them every day. A helpful tip is to write them down on a piece of paper, and keep it in a place where it can be visible and easily accessed, whether that’s beside your computer or taped to your mirror.
Keeping in touch with your values is a lifelong exercise. You should revisit them often, especially in moments where you may begin to feel out of alignment. Your beliefs reflect what people see on the outside, but it’s also how you operate when no one is looking. Every year, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, creates an Integrity Report to revisit his core values to see if he’s living them in a sincere way. In his report, he explores three questions:
- What are the core values that drive my life and work?
- How am I living and working with integrity right now?
- How can I set a higher standard in the future?
How Values help You as a Storyteller
If you think that identifying values seem unimportant as it relates to your story, it’s quite the opposite. Your beliefs set the standard for how you build and operate your brand. It guides your decisions, behaviors, and answers questions. For instance, if one of your principles is accountability, you could ask yourself, how would accountability work in this situation? Other questions to ask yourself based on your morals are, who do I want to associate my name or brand with? Or even what conversations do I want to add my opinion to? Essentially, your tenets help you to be intentional about how you show up and communicate.
Knowing your core values sets the stage for great storytelling. As you live by your personal standards, you’ll start collecting narratives that embody them. Identifying these values create the blueprint for the stories and lessons you choose to share which resonate with those who share in your value system. As we know, storytelling is an emotional process. In committing to the stories we tell, we create a space where we see ourselves in them, accept them as an extension of our own beliefs, and eventually use them to build, inspire, and engage with our community.
In being a part of this 24/7 cycle of information, leaning into your values gives you a footing to better understand what you stand for. However, there will be times when you are tempted to compromise on your beliefs. It’s in these moments when your values are truly significant. People will challenge you on your morals, and it will feel uncomfortable to go against the core of who you are to add your perspective to the conversation. Before adding your name to any discussion, take a step back and ask yourself, “is this in line with my values? Am I confident in my belief system, even if my point of view isn’t popular and puts me in the minority?” These are not easy questions to answer. The good news is that you also have the choice to refrain from adding your voice to the dialogue altogether. Instead of giving in, position yourself to contribute to a different conversation, or start one of your own with your community.
How We Can Help
We hope that you will take some time to assess what your core values are. Doing this can aid you in feeling confident in your story and the message you want to share with the world, especially as you build your community, and take on the identity of someone with expertise and influence. At WritersBlok, we act as partners to our clients, which means holding them accountable to their beliefs when they question what direction to take. If you are in need of a team to help you brainstorm and define your values, or looking for guidance on how to communicate your story in a way that’s aligned with your beliefs, contact us today.