Getting started
You’ve got the cards. Let’s open the vault.
Every day, you make hundreds of decisions. Whether you realize it or not, those decisions are shaped by the unique values you hold.
A values sort helps you discover the handful of values that matter most to you. Here’s everything you need, from your first card to your final five.
For the Complete, Core, and Career Editions. Have an earlier four-deck edition?
Before you begin
What you’re about to do
Values are the principles that guide what matters most to you. They shape your relationships, priorities, decisions, and sense of purpose.
In this exercise, you’ll sort values by importance, narrowing them step by step until only your core values remain.
The goal isn’t to find the “correct” values. It’s to discover the values that are most true for you. Some will confirm what you’ve always known about yourself. Others may surprise you.
Meet a card
Everything a card is telling you
- 1Value
The value you’ll be considering during your sort.
- 2Definition
A brief description to help clarify the meaning of each value.
- 3Category
Each value belongs to one of 17 categories. The colors and graphics help you spot themes as you sort.
- 4Card number
Every value has a unique number. To return the cards to their rainbow order, sort them by number.
- 5Deck label
Flip a card over to see its deck: Core, Career, or Expanded.
Good to know: Cards arrive organized by deck (Core, Career, Expanded), so you can start sorting right away.
Step 1 · Choose a deck
How would you like to explore your values today?
Core Deck
Discover the values that shape who you are.
A great first sort for anyone, and a strong foundation for future sorts.
Career Deck
Explore the values that shape your work and professional life.
Helpful for job changes, burnout, career counseling, or preparing for reviews and interviews.
Expanded Deck
Go beyond the essentials with additional, nuanced values.
Use it on its own, or after a Core Deck sort for a deeper dive.
Pro tip: You can mix the decks if you’d like. Each card has its deck name on the back, so they’re easy to separate again.
Step 2 · Sort
One card at a time
Arrange the five gray sorting cards in a row in front of you, from Not Important To Me to Most Important To Me. Then pick up your chosen deck, read each value card, and ask:
“How important is this to me?”
Place it beneath the sorting card that feels most true. If you’re unsure, set the card aside and come back to it later.
There are no wrong answers
Your gut reaction is usually the honest one.
Security isn’t “better” than Freedom. It’s about what’s true for you.
Those difficult choices are where the greatest insights happen.
Try a quick warm-up
Get a feel for it before you grab your deck. Tap the pile where each value belongs for you, right now.
Now imagine that with a full deck in your hands, where the choices get harder and the patterns start to show. That’s where the good stuff is.
Step 3 · Narrow it down
Keep narrowing
Once you’ve sorted the entire deck, focus on your Most Important pile. The goal isn’t to find every value that matters. It’s to identify the few you couldn’t live without.
Aim for five.
Compare similar values and choose the cards that can encompass the others. Cards from the same category are often competing for the same spot, so let one card represent the theme.
Struggling to get down to five? Keep up to 10 if that works better for you.
3,091,033,296
possible sets of five from the 208 values in the Complete Edition.
This unique set is you.
Pro tip: This final elimination is where insight and self-discovery emerge. Take your time here.
Step 4 · Keep them close
You found them
Take a photo of your final cards or write them down somewhere you’ll revisit often: your journal, your phone’s lock screen, a note on the fridge. The more often you see them, the more they’ll guide your everyday decisions.
Want something to keep? Every Complete Edition order comes with a Core Values Record card, made for writing down your final five. Need more for family or clients? Get Core Values Records.
Take a moment.
These are your core values.
Some may confirm what you’ve always known about yourself. Others may surprise you. Either way, you now have words for what matters most to you.
What do I do now?
Go deeper
Pull out the Reflection Questions card and use it to explore what your values mean for you and how they show up in your life.
What about the other cards?
They weren’t rejected. They helped you discover what matters most. Recognizing what matters less is part of how you clearly see what matters most.
Come back to it
Your values may evolve over time. Revisit your sort during life transitions, career changes, or every few years to see what’s changed.
Sort together
Bring someone along
The cards work beautifully with partners, families, friends, and teams. Sorting side by side sparks conversations you might not have otherwise. Here are two favorites from Values Vault families.
Using the cards with clients or a team? Explore how values work can support decision-making, inner conflict, goal setting, and more.
Applications & resourcesCommon questions
Quick answers
Which deck should I start with?
If you’re not sure, start with the Core Deck. It covers the values that shape who you are. Choose the Career Deck if you’re thinking about work, and save the Expanded Deck for a deeper dive, on its own or after a Core sort.
Do I have to sort all 208 cards at once?
Not at all. Most people sort one deck at a time. If you’d like a comprehensive sort later, you can mix the decks. The deck name on the back of each card makes them easy to separate again.
What if I can’t decide where a card goes?
Set it aside and come back to it later. Try to trust your first instinct, and remember there are no wrong answers. The hard choices are often the most revealing ones.
I can’t get down to five. Is that okay?
Yes. Keep up to 10 if that works better for you. If you want to push a little further, look for cards that overlap and choose the one that encompasses the others.
What do the colors and pictures on the cards mean?
Every value belongs to one of 17 categories, and the colors and graphics show which one. When narrowing to their top five, people naturally group cards by theme and pick one card to represent it. The categories make that quicker and help you spot the patterns in what you value.
How do I put the cards back in order?
Flip them over to separate them by deck (Core, Career, Expanded), then sort each deck by the number on the front. That returns them to their rainbow order.
Can I use the cards with my partner, family, or clients?
Absolutely. The cards work for individuals, couples, families, and teams, and therapists use them with clients. You don’t need to be a therapist to use them. See the applications and resources page for more ideas.
I have an earlier edition with four decks. Where do I start?
The original Complete Edition divides the cards into four decks, labeled on the back: Base (green), Personal (blue), Career (orange), and Expanded (pink). For personal values, combine the Base and Personal decks. For career values, combine Base and Career. The Expanded deck is a deeper dive you can sort on its own or add to the others. Sorting and narrowing work exactly the same way. More on the original edition.
More questions? Check the full FAQ or reach out. We’re happy to help.
Happy sorting!
Values Vault was created by licensed psychotherapist Aly Webster, LCPC, to make exploring your values feel tangible, personal, and even a little fun. We hope it helps you live with intention.