Values card sort

When life fills up with symptoms, stress, or just being busy, it’s easy to lose sight of what you care about. A values card sort is a simple way to notice it again. You sort a deck of value words and narrow them down to the few that feel most like you. This free exercise takes about five minutes. There are no right answers and nothing to score. It works in your browser, needs no account, and you can save your top values or have them emailed to you.

What is a values card sort?

It’s a short exercise for working out what matters most to you. You go through a deck of value words, one at a time, and sort each one by how important it feels. Then you narrow your list down to a handful. It comes from a therapy approach called ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), which uses your values as a guide for how you want to live, especially when life is hard.

Why your values matter

Values are not goals. A goal is something you can finish. A value is a direction you keep moving in, like being kind, honest, or brave. When pain or illness takes things away, your values can still point the way to a life that feels like yours. Knowing them makes the next small choice a little clearer.

Common questions

What is a values card sort?

It’s a simple exercise where you sort a deck of value words and pick the few that matter most to you. It helps you see what you want your life to stand for.

What do you mean by values?

Values are the ways you want to live and treat people, like honesty, courage, or care. They are not goals to tick off. They are directions you can keep moving in.

How many values should I choose?

You narrow it down to about five. There are no right answers, and you can come back and change them whenever you like.

Is it free and private?

Yes. It’s free, runs in your browser, and nothing is stored unless you choose to email your results to yourself.

How long does it take?

About five minutes, at your own pace.

If you’d like help living by your values while dealing with a health condition, that’s the kind of thing we work on together. A free 15-minute consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. You can also see how therapy works.