Discovering Your Authentic Core Values: A step-by-step guide Paperback December 11, 2012

by Marc Alan Schelske

Excellent Book

Genres: Personal Development, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published December 11, 2012

About the author

Marc Alan Schelske writes about life at the intersection of grace and growth. He hosts The Apprenticeship Way podcast and writes about nurturing a healthy inner life. He serves as the pastor of Bridge City Community Church and lives in Portland, Oregon. You can find him and more writing at www.MarcAlanSchelske.com.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still working through this. There were so many books on corporate core values and so few on personal core values. Makes a distinction between aspirational and authentic core values that I think is insightful and important - linked to the idea that very few people can fundamentally change themselves, but we can become better versions of our selves.

[Hai · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's one of the books i have been looking for. I've been meditating to quiet my mind and strengthen my feelings in order to better understand my core values. This book gave me a very useful tool to know my core values better.

[Matt Partlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book requires long, hard work outside of reading it in order to reap the full benefits of its intent. Work that I have yet to do. Work that I am almost impatient to do, and yet, am worried to do as part of the book asks you to ask for others' insight and to be prepared to hear hard things and not get defensive. But hey, if the work doesn't challenge you, it won't change you.

It asks similar questions that I, as a clinical therapist, ask my pts to help build up their identity and self-awareness, but the book helps give these questions of mine more focus and depth. So, it can be a good tool to help not just yourself, but others around you whether you be a parent, a respected student among your peers, a boss, a partner, etc.

I wish I had done this work much earlier in life, but one of my core values I discovered while reading and digesting the book is a theme of "It's never too late." No matter where you are in life, get to know the authentic, aspirational, and shadowy you.

[Chris Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short book but don’t let that deceive you. It’s value lies in its ability to guide you toward your innate core values. The author emphasizes that core values are not aspirational; instead they are a part of you and guide your decision making whether or not you realize it. Further, they are in a sense amoral: they may lead toward good choices or poor choices but do not constitute by themselves moral judgments.

Armed with these data points, I undertook the process to discover my core values. I was surprised by what I discovered; a surprise that settled into a peace that I had in fact gotten close to my values.

Knowing this has helped guide my conscious decision-making. This past week I can think of a handful of decisions that I made because I knew my values.

I highly recommend this book for someone committed to discovering their core values and willing to do the ~ 10-15 hours necessary.

[Thomas Singler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre court qui peint une méthode simple mais efficace en 5 étapes pour découvrir ses valeurs authentiques par opposition avec les valeurs auxquelles nous aspirons mais qui ne nous animent pas profondément.

Le premier livre d’une série à laquelle je vais me consacrer pour définir mes « valeurs », principes directeurs que je souhaite prendre comme autant de boussoles pour guider mes choix de vie.

Ce livre m’a aidé à poursuivre et renforcer une réflexion déjà initiée sans littérature.

[Brielle Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I’m agnostic so the parts talking about God didn’t resonate with me. That wasn’t even close to the majority of the book though. I liked how this book wants you to put in a lot of self-reflection.

[Erica Heiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical and useful. Provides a great framework/process for identifying your core values.

[Greg Moon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written.

[KATHLEEN L. DOYLE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vote of thanks

So I am in the middle of reading many, many self-improvement books. This book has proven to be the most practical, as well as the most useful. In my view, the author has more than adequately filled a gap in the many books written on, but really talking around, living an intentional, goal-driven life based on a mission statement. It was hard for me to find a good book concentrating exclusively on values, and this one more than fits the bill. Thanks to an author who not only writes well, but offers good advice that someone can actually use and learn from while in the midst of making personal changes. Thanks for to the author for writing a book solely dedicated to values: what they are, how to determine which of yours are authentic, and what to do about it, if you're serious about improving. No rah rah motivation stuff here.