Values clarity quiz: Simple questions to find what actually matters to you
Someone asks if you’re free this weekend. The answer should be easy, but it’s not. There’s a tightness in your chest before you can even think it through. The hesitation feels messy – like maybe it’s a no, or maybe you’re just tired, or maybe you’re being difficult again and can’t tell the difference.
You pause. You overthink. You say yes and immediately feel the weight of it.
Confusion is often a values conflict. You’re trying to choose between things that both matter, or between what you think you should want and what you actually need.
This values clarity quiz helps you stop guessing. It’s a personal values quiz you can finish in 10 minutes that shows you what you actually care about, not what sounds good on paper.
Rate the statements, answer the “no” prompts, choose between value pairs (no ties), then score your results to find your top 5 core values and define what they mean to you. This core values quiz is designed to be fast, honest, and practical.
What this quiz is (and is not)
What it does:
Helps you name and rank your core values so you can make decisions faster and with less guilt.
What it doesn’t do:
Diagnose you. Label you forever. Tell you what you “should” value or judge what matters to you.
When to take it:
During transitions (new job, breakup, move). When you’re burned out and everything feels wrong. When you’re drowning in decisions. When your relationships feel misaligned. When you keep saying yes and feeling resentful.
How to take the values clarity quiz (2-minute setup)
Grab your notes app or a piece of paper.
Three rules:
- Answer fast. First instinct wins. If you’re thinking too hard, you’re performing.
- Choose what’s true now, not what sounds good. Your values aren’t aspirational. They’re what you already protect when no one’s watching.
- If you’re stuck between two answers, pick the one that costs you something. That’s usually the real value.
You’ll go through four parts. At the end, you’ll score your answers and land on your top 5 core values.
Core values quiz part A: “Your yes” questions (3 minutes)
Rate each statement from 1 to 5:
1 = Strongly disagree
5 = Strongly agree
Answer based on what feels true right now, not what you wish were true.
- I feel most alive when I’m learning something new or solving a hard problem.
- I value solitude and quiet to feel like myself.
- I feel uncomfortable when things are too unpredictable or chaotic.
- Being recognized for my work matters more to me than I admit.
- I would rather be respected than liked.
- I lose energy quickly in environments that feel fake or performative.
- I prioritize experiences over things.
- I value making progress most days, even if it’s small.
- I value autonomy over flexibility for other people.
- I’m willing to be uncomfortable if it means I’m growing.
- Feeling connected to people I love matters more than career success.
- I value reliability and follow-through.
- I would choose a peaceful life over an impressive one.
- I feel trapped when I can’t change my mind or try something different.
- I value service, generosity, or responsibility, even when it costs me.
Now: Circle your top 5 highest-rated statements. These are clues.
Core values quiz questions part B: “Your no” questions (2 minutes)
This section reveals your values through what you resist, resent, or refuse. Read each prompt and finish the sentence as honestly as you can. Write whatever comes up first.
I lose respect when…
(Example: someone lies to me, someone wastes my time, someone doesn’t follow through)
I feel trapped when…
(Example: I can’t leave, I have to perform, my schedule isn’t mine)
I cannot tolerate…
(Example: dishonesty, chaos, being controlled, superficial conversation)
I feel proud of myself when I…
(Example: keep a boundary, finish something hard, tell the truth when it’s risky)
The last time I felt truly angry, it was because someone…
(Example: dismissed me, crossed a boundary, broke a promise)
Mini exercise:
Write three dealbreakers (things you will not compromise on). Next to each one, write the value it protects.
Example:
- Dealbreaker: Being lied to
- Value it protects: Honesty / Trust
Part C: The forced choice round (3 minutes)
If you came here looking for a what are my core values quiz, this is the part that creates real clarity. No ties. No “both matter.” Pick one.
For each pairing, circle the value that wins. Then write one sentence explaining why.
- Recognition vs peace
(Do you need to be seen, or do you need to be calm?) - Loyalty vs honesty
(Will you stay quiet to keep the peace, or speak up even if it costs you?) - Adventure vs security
(Do you crave newness, or do you protect stability?) - Ambition vs presence
(Are you building toward something, or savoring what’s here?) - Tradition vs independence
(Do you honor what’s been done, or forge your own path?) - Achievement vs connection
(Would you sacrifice time with people to accomplish something?) - Freedom vs commitment
(Do you need space to move, or depth with people and places?) - Growth vs comfort
(Are you willing to be uncomfortable to evolve?) - Justice vs compassion
(Do you prioritize fairness or understanding?) - Control vs trust
(Do you need to steer, or can you let go?)
This section shows what you choose under pressure. Not what sounds noble. What you actually pick when both options cost you something.
Part D: Your pattern check (2 minutes)
Your values aren’t just what you say. They’re what you do when no one’s looking and what shows up in your calendar.
Answer these prompts:
A time I felt most like myself was…
What were you doing? Who were you with? What mattered in that moment?
A time I betrayed myself was…
When did you ignore what mattered to you? What value did you trade away?
The three things I refuse to rush are…
What do you protect even when you’re busy?
If my calendar told the truth, it would say I value…
Look at where your time actually goes. What does it reveal?
Quick reflection:
Are the values you claim the same as the values you live? If not, where’s the gap?
Score it: Values clarity quiz results (find your top 5)
This is where your values clarity quiz turns into your top 5 list.
Step 1: List the values that showed up most often.
Go back through parts A, B, C, and D. Which words or themes kept appearing? Write them all down.
Next to each circled or high-rated answer, write the value it points to. Examples: “Recognition” could point to achievement, excellence, or impact. “Unpredictable” could point to stability, safety, or order. “Learning something new” could point to growth, curiosity, or mastery.
Step 2: Group similar ones.
Some values overlap. For example: achievement, excellence, mastery. Or: peace, calm, simplicity. Cluster them together and pick the word that feels most true.
Step 3: Narrow to your top 5.
If you have more than five, use this tiebreaker question:
“If I could only keep one value during a hard year, which one stays?”
Start there. Then pick the next four that feel non-negotiable.
Your output:
“My top 5 values are: ___, ___, ___, ___, ___.”
List of personal values
If you’re struggling to name what you found in the quiz, use this list. But don’t start here. Use it to label what you already noticed, not to pick what sounds good.
Pick words that feel emotionally true, not words you want to be true.
Connection:
Belonging, love, community, family, friendship, intimacy, loyalty
Integrity:
Honesty, authenticity, courage, fairness, justice, transparency, truth
Growth:
Learning, curiosity, mastery, progress, self-improvement, challenge, evolution
Stability:
Security, health, safety, order, routine, predictability, reliability
Impact:
Service, leadership, contribution, purpose, legacy, influence, generosity
Freedom:
Independence, autonomy, adventure, flexibility, exploration, choice, space
Peace:
Calm, simplicity, balance, rest, harmony, stillness, groundedness
Achievement:
Excellence, ambition, success, recognition, discipline, competence, accomplishment
Creativity:
Expression, originality, imagination, play, innovation, beauty, art
Meaning:
Purpose, spirituality, depth, significance, faith, wisdom, reflection
This is not a complete list of personal values. It’s a starting point. If your value isn’t here, name it yourself.
Quick note on synonyms: If two words feel the same to you (peace and calm, for example), pick the one you’d defend in a hard conversation. That’s your real value.
Define your top 5 (so they guide decisions)
Values without definitions are just words. Make them specific to you.
For each of your top 5 values, fill this in:
Value name:
(Example: Freedom)
What it means to me:
(One sentence. Example: “I need control over my time and the ability to change my mind.”)
What it is not:
(One sentence. Example: “It’s not avoiding commitment. It’s protecting my autonomy.”)
How I honor it weekly:
(One small action. Example: “I keep Tuesday nights open with no plans.”)
How I betray it:
(One pattern to watch. Example: “I overcommit and then resent everyone.”)
Do this for all five. This is what makes the personal values quiz actually useful instead of just inspiring.
Put your values to work: A simple decision filter
Next time you’re stuck on a decision, run it through this three-question filter:
1. Which option honors my top value?
Look at your #1 value. Which choice protects it?
2. What value am I trading away if I choose this?
Every decision costs something. What are you giving up?
3. What choice will future-me respect?
Six months from now, which version of this decision will you be glad you made?
Optional: Write a one-line values statement.
This becomes your tiebreaker for everything.
Format: “I prioritize ___, ___, and ___ over ___.”
Example:
“I prioritize peace, autonomy, and depth over recognition, speed, and surface-level connection.”
Common results (and what they usually mean)
If your top value is peace:
You’re not lazy. You’re overstimulated. Your nervous system needs less noise, not more motivation.
If your top value is freedom:
You may need more space than most people. That’s not selfish. That’s how you function.
If your top value is achievement:
You still need recovery to sustain it. Rest isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the system.
If your top value is connection:
You’re allowed to choose relationships over productivity. That’s not weakness. That’s clarity.
If your top value is integrity:
You will lose people who can’t handle honesty. That’s the cost. It’s worth it.
If your top value is growth:
Comfort will always feel like stagnation to you. You need challenge to feel alive. Build that in on purpose.
What to do when your results feel confusing
What if I have too many values?
You don’t. You have five core ones and a bunch of secondary ones. The core ones are the ones you protect even when it costs you something. The secondary ones are nice to have but negotiable under pressure.
Can my core values change?
Yes. Especially after big transitions like loss, recovery, becoming a parent, career shifts, or healing. Retake this every year or whenever something major changes.
What if my values conflict with my job or relationship?
That’s the information. If your top value is autonomy and your job requires constant availability, the tension isn’t going away. You either renegotiate the situation or accept the cost. Same with relationships. Misaligned values don’t fix themselves with better communication. They require real changes or honest exits.
How often should I retake a personal values quiz?
Once a year, or whenever you feel chronically off. If you’re making decisions that don’t feel like you, or if resentment is building everywhere, your values have probably shifted and you haven’t updated your life to match.
What if the quiz confirmed I’m living out of alignment?
That’s hard. But now you know. You can’t un-know it. Start small. Pick one value and one weekly action that honors it. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life today. But you do have to start moving toward alignment, even in tiny ways.
Save your top 5 somewhere you’ll actually see them. Phone wallpaper. Bathroom mirror. Top of your daily notes.
Then choose one small action this week that matches your #1 value. Not a big life change. Just one decision that says “this matters to me.”
That’s how values stop being words and start being the way you live.
Copy and paste this into your notes
My top 5 core values:
What each one means to me:
- Value 1: ___
- Value 2: ___
- Value 3: ___
- Value 4: ___
- Value 5: ___
Weekly actions that honor them:
Red flags (how I betray these values):
My values statement:
“I prioritize ___, ___, and ___ over ___.”
