Topic outline

  • Exercise 2 Values


    Values are a major motivating force for people in decision making. Values determine your goals and the ways you perceive any situation. If you would be offered a journey to a jungle, you would perceive the offer very differently if you value adventure and excitement or if you value personal safety. To be able to plan a good life and a good career choice you have to understand your basic values. Your values should determine your priorities and when you find a job in an organization that matches to your values it is usually a sustainable career choice.

    One way to find your values  is to start answering to: 

    What and who are important for me?

    Why am I here? 

    What am I doing? 

    Why does it matter? 

    What is the point of it all?

    What does work mean? 

    What defines good work? 

    Why does money have to do with it? 

    The answers are unique and personal. 



    Complete the exercises in about 60 minutes.

    • Exercises

    • Not available unless: Your Email address contains @aalto.fi
      URL icon
      Values cards sort URL

      This values card deck is based on forty common values. Start by choosing an area of life you want to enhance, improve, or explore. Next, consider which values in the list below best complete this sentence: In this area of my life, I want to be          .  There is no right or wrong way to sort the cards, but make sure to sort them all by how important they are to you today.

    • URL icon
      Values vs Goals URL

      A short video about Values vs Goals by Dr Russ Harris

    • Assignment icon
      The meaningfulness of life and work Assignment
      Students must
      Make a submission

      What are your biggest dreams? Think about your big dreams in life, not just about work or career. You dont have to write about them, if you feel they are too personal to reveal, just reflect them. What would be absolutely great to achieve in life? What would be satisfying to be like as a person, as a member of society?

      Then, write some about your work and describe two aspects: 1) what is necessary for you to have self-fulfillment in your career? 2) What would be quite nice but not necessary?

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      URL icon
      Sisu as Guts, Grace and Gentleness. A Doctoral Thesis by Emilia Lahti URL

      Sisu as Guts, Grace and Gentleness. A way of Life, Growth and Being in Times of Adversity. Doctoral thesis by Emilia Lahti

    • Questionnaire icon
      My observations from the value exercises Questionnaire
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Exercise 1 What motivates me?
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Exercise 3 My personal strengths