Anchor Into Your Core Values

This week on the Leading With Heart podcast, I’m sharing one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my journey of self-awareness and leadership: the power of core values.

Knowing your values isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a game-changer. They are the compass that guide your decisions, the foundation that grounds you, and the language that helps you explain what truly matters most.

A Wake-Up Call

The first time I ever did a values exercise with a coach, it shook me to my core. As we narrowed down the things that mattered most to me, I realized that almost every area of my life was out of alignment with those values.

No wonder I felt stuck, unhappy, and anxious. That moment was a wake-up call. Suddenly I had words for what I’d been feeling, and a new sense of clarity for the changes I needed to make.

Why Values Matter

Core values give us language for our inner world. They help us:

• Understand what motivates and fulfills us
• Recognize why certain decisions feel draining while others feel energizing
• Communicate our needs with clarity
• Build confidence to say yes without hesitation and no without guilt
  
  

Without that clarity, it’s easy to chase someone else’s version of success or fall into burnout. But when we anchor into our values, it’s like turning the lights on in a dark room—you can finally see where you’re going.

Values in Leadership

Knowing your own values is powerful. But knowing the values of others? That’s where real leadership begins.

Imagine understanding what drives your partner, your kids, your teammates, or your boss. Suddenly, feedback and conversations shift. Instead of simply giving orders or pointing out problems, you can connect tasks and growth opportunities back to what people care about most.

That’s when buy-in, ownership, and pride in their work take root. Values-based leadership isn’t just about getting results, it’s about helping people become better versions of themselves.

Where to Start

Not sure where to begin? Try a values elicitation exercise. Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead has a great version, or you can join us inside the Lead Your Life App, where we’re working on this together all month long.

Once you’ve identified your top three to five values, start using them as filters. Ask yourself: Does this choice align with what I value most? If yes, lean in. If not, it’s probably a no.

Final Thoughts

Friend, core values aren’t fluff. They’re anchors that keep you steady when life gets messy. When you live by them, you find clarity, freedom, and confidence. And when you lead by them, you inspire others to do the same.

Take time this week to name your values, and watch how everything else begins to shift.

RESOURCES:

SIGN UP FOR THE APP:

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-app

Dare to Lead Values Exercise:

https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode80