Discovering Your Values After Leaving Religion

The world feels both full of possibility and a little overwhelming now that you have set aside a belief system that once gave you meaning and value, or at least taught you to believe that they saw as valuable, doesn't it? The question now remains: How do you uncover what truly matters to you, after so long living according to someone else’s truth?

You don’t need any special tools or mystical gifts to connect with the only part of you that can answer this question: Your inner guide. All you need are the right questions to help you discover what truly matters to you.

In this post, we're going to show you how to tap into that compass by identifying your values and how to start living in a way that feels authentic, empowered, and in full alignment with your true self.

1. Why Identifying Your Values is Important

You might be wondering, “Why should I even bother figuring out my values? Isn’t it enough to just live my life and see what happens?” The thing is, without knowing what truly matters to you, it’s easy to feel lost, disconnected, or unsure about your decisions. After all, when you’ve spent years following a set of rules, it can be tough to know what you really stand for.

Think of it like your very own personal roadmap. When you know your values, you’re able to navigate making decisions with a sense of purpose, because you’re choosing based on what’s true for you, not what others say is right.

Imagine the freedom in that—being able to make decisions that align with what feels good to you.

You're living with purpose and intention. Whether it’s your relationships, your career, or your everyday choices, knowing your values helps you create a life that feels meaningful and authentic.

2. How to Find Your Values

Let’s dive into how to actually discover your values. We created this incredible 20 page mini workbook that guides you with powerful prompts and exercises that help you reflect on and identify what is important to you:

This is meant to help you listen to the inner voice that has always been there and learn how to build trust in listening to it. After filling it out, you're going to have a more clear understanding of what is most important to you, and what you need to start doing in order to live in alignment with your values. Which leads to our 3rd step:

3. What to Do Once You’ve Figured Out Your Values

Live them out! Knowing your values is just the beginning; it’s time to put them into practice. And remember, this is a very messy part of the journey. You will not do this perfectly and that is more than okay—it's to be expected!

Step 1: Align Your Actions with Your Values

Start making decisions that align with your values. For example, if one of your values is creativity, make time in your schedule for creative activities. If freedom is important, ask yourself how you can create more space for that in your life. When you live in harmony with your values, you’ll feel more grounded and at peace.

Step 2: Set Boundaries Based on Your Values

Setting boundaries is a powerful way to protect your values. For instance, if honesty is one of your values, you may need to create a boundary with people who aren’t truthful. If your family values connection, make time for regular family activities. Boundaries help you stay true to what matters most, and they keep you from getting pulled into things that don’t serve your highest good.

Step 3: Make Choices with Confidence

When you’re clear about your values, decision-making becomes easier. Whether you’re deciding what job to take, who to spend your time with, or how to spend your energy, ask yourself, Does this align with my values? If it does, you’ll feel a sense of ease and confidence. If it doesn’t, trust yourself enough to walk away.

Step 4: Practice Self-Compassion

Living in alignment with your values doesn’t mean you’ll never make mistakes. Sometimes, you’ll stray off course—and that’s okay. Be gentle with yourself during these times. Realigning with your values is a journey, not a destination, so give yourself the space and compassion to grow and learn along the way.

<<<DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE MINI VALUES WORKBOOK HERE>>>

Your values are the foundation for a life of meaning, purpose, and freedom. Trust them, follow them, and watch as they lead you to a life that feels deeply aligned with your soul. The journey starts now—we can't wait to see where this takes you!

P.S. If you want more guidance on reconnecting with your authentic self and building the life you deserve, we are opening up our waitlist for our online program, Happy Whole U™ on Feb 1st. By signing up, you'll get:

HALF OFF the price
The 1st section of the course for FREE (+ PDFs from our workbook)
A FREE live group coaching call with Cara + Rachael
Early bird access (we have limited spots open)