We all love a good values list. Organisations list values alongside their vision and mission statements. It looks something like:
- Integrity
- Growth
- Kindness
- Excellence
They look great on resumes, team slides, and wall posters. They are great calls for investors and woo wide-eyed employees who subscribe to those values. According to an article on the World Economic Forum,
Nearly 9 in 10 Gen Z (aged 18-25) and Millennials (aged 26-41) in Europe saying they would leave a job to work somewhere that better matches their values, compared to 7 in 10 Gen Xers (aged 42-57). Furthermore, 60% of Gen Zers and Millennials say values are a deal-breaker when considering job opportunities today.
Increasingly, the younger workforce seeks meaning in the things that they do, and that naturally extends to their career and life choices. Some of us jump into our careers as long as they offer a decent paycheck, benefits, and the promise of some resemblance of career progression. But many of us are increasingly asking why, especially when we realise one day, something feels wrong. Why are we waking up to do the same thing over and over again?
One possible answer could be the misalignment of values.
In life coaching, especially through the KoPlay™ Method, we look at values not as decoration, but as navigation.
Your values are not just what you believe in. They’re the compass for how you choose to live.
What are Values?
Your values are the inner principles.
They’re not goals… they’re guides. They are like these little beacons, illuminating what matters to you.
They shape your decisions, reactions, and sense of fulfilment.
Some people value freedom.
Some value belonging.
Some value adventure, peace, achievement, compassion, truth, stability – or a messy mix of all the above.
Values aren’t about looking good.
They’re about feeling right.
Why Values Matter?
When you live in alignment with your values, life feels more grounded, even during chaos.
But when you betray your values (even subtly), that’s when inner conflict creeps in:
- You feel drained but don’t know why
- You say “yes” but your gut screams “no”
- You chase goals that look great on paper but feel hollow inside
Most people know their values. Few use them. And I pray that you would not find yourself in a situation where you had to defend your values against what’s being asked of you.
How Coaching Helps You Align with Your Values
We use creative and reflective tools to bring your values off the paper and into your real life.
Here’s how:
- We clarify your real values, not the ones you think you “should” have
- We spot misalignment – “You say you value rest, but your calendar says ‘robot on fire.’ Let’s talk.”
- We design experiments – Small steps that honour your values without blowing up your life.
- We check in – Because living your values isn’t a one-time decision, it’s a daily practice.
Try This
Pick 3 values you know are important to you. You can use our Values Discovery Worksheet to help you.
Ask yourself:
🔹 Am I making space for this value in my daily life?
🔹 When was the last time I acted in alignment with it?
🔹 What’s one small shift I can make this week to honour it more fully?
Small changes = big alignment.
Your values aren’t just branding words or CV fluff.
They are the real compass in an uncertain world.
If you’re feeling stuck, lost, or just slightly “off”, don’t start with your goals.
Start with your values.
Warmly,
The KoPlay Team 🤍
Helping you live with more clarity, purpose, and play.