We’ve been trained to make everything “content.”
Morning routines.
Skincare shelves.
Our coffee orders.
Even our values.
We turn them into lists that look nice on Instagram stories: Integrity. Growth. Freedom. Love.
But it’s all an illusion. A pretty one at that.
Values aren’t a mood board. They’re a practice. And practice is rarely aesthetic.
The Reality of Living Your Values
Living your values often looks boring:
Turning down a fun purchase because you’re saving for your future self
Having the awkward conversation you’ve been putting off
Saying no to someone you love because you’re choosing rest over burnout
Deleting an app to stop doomscrolling
Getting up for therapy when you’d rather stay in bed
None of that belongs on Pinterest. Yet these choices build the life you’re craving.
Why We Romanticise Values
Millennials, and especially Gen Z, grew up online. We’re used to performing who we are. Lists of values feel safe and performative. But the hard part (living them) doesn’t get likes.
We’re told self-development should “spark joy,” but it often feels more like micro-friction. And that’s okay. Friction is how change happens.
Micro-Practices to Bring Your Values Into Practice
It’s hard to change, but it can be done. Start small. Think habits, not hashtags. Here are a few examples of values and micro-practices to get you started:
Let’s say you value Financial Responsibility. You could automate $20 a week into savings. Review your subscriptions and cancel one.
If you value Boundaries, say “let me check my schedule” before agreeing to plans. Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison.
For Health, walk while you listen to a podcast. Keep water on your desk. Prep simple lunches on Sunday.
For Authenticity, share an honest update with a friend instead of “I’m fine.” Try one day without filters on stories.
You’re not meant to overhaul your life overnight. Rather, it’s for you to show up repeatedly for the values you claim.
But we can go further. Try this quick exercise:
Pick one value you’ve written down before.
Ask: “How does this show up in my daily actions?”
Brainstorm one micro-practice you could start this week.
Track it quietly. No posting required.
Do this for a month. You’ll begin to notice how your life starts to feel more aligned without needing an aesthetic makeover.
Closing Thoughts
Your values don’t need to be beautiful to everyone else. They need to be meaningful to you. When you stop performing and start practising, your life may look quieter, but it will feel richer.
One last thought: this week, choose one “unsexy” value practice and do it without posting. Just for you.
Never forget that you are not a data point. You are a decentralized soul.
This is INCREDIBLE advice, hun, thank you!! 😍😍💖🥰🥰🥰👏👏💅👑👑