you can’t spell joy without “why”
Our values and motivations are at the heart of every decision we make. These are the silent forces that shape our actions, guide our relationships, and ultimately, define our lives. The MindMAP Values & Motivations Wheel provides a framework to help us chart these intrinsic drivers. This model isn't just theoretical; It has also been translated into a MindMAPT assessment tool, exploring how (and why) we use our most limited resources: time, energy, and money.
The Framework:
The Values & Motivations Wheel is a compass for understanding our motives. This model combines aspects of Schwartz Theory of Basic Values and Reiss 16 Basic Desires Theory. It is based on two fundamental axes: the 'Protect vs. Express' axis and the 'Connection vs. Self-Interest' axis. By evaluating our tendencies across these dimensions, we can better identify our core values.
The "Pure" Values:
Conformity (Pure Protect): These values focus on the preservation of order and standards. They are driven by a desire to protect the status quo and adhere to established norms.
Self-Direction (Pure Express): Self-Directive values are motivated by autonomy and freedom from external control. These values encompass personal expression and individual choices.
Benevolence (Pure Connection): Benevolence is characterized by a focus on the welfare of others. These values are rooted in altruism and the pursuit of greater good.
Power (Pure Self-Interest): Power represents the pursuit of achievement for personal gain. This value is driven by self-interest and the desire to influence or control.
The Intersecting Values:
Universalism (Protect Connection): Universalism combines protective characteristics with a focus on collective well-being. It is about upholding and advocating for collective values, such as hope, wisdom, equality, and honesty.
Stimulation (Express Connection): Stimulation is at the intersection of expression and connection, with values such as activity, passion, and variety. Stimulation occurs when we engage in something outside of ourselves.
Security (Protect Self-Interest): Security refers to the desire to protect ourselves and inner circle, which can manifest as a desire for safety, protection, stability, and health.
Hedonism (Express Self-Interest): Hedonism is the expression of self-interest, which might include taking pleasure in food, leisure, sex, or relaxation.
Personal Currencies Assessment
Personal Currencies (PCA) is an assessment which applies the Values & Motivations Wheel into a value-sorting tool. This assessment has two main goals and several potential applications. First, the assessment is intended to help identify and organize the “why” behind our actions. Next, the assessment urges us to consider whether our values align with our day-to-day decisions.
Assessment Development and Design
The Personal Values Card Sort was incredibly influential in the development of this assessment. For years, I have urged friends and colleagues to join me in this lengthy activity. Fortunately, many obliged. This often involved laying out 100 value cards on my kitchen table and debating their relative importance. I was so fascinated by people’s answers and reasoning for prioritizing one word over another. I also realized how a word can be emotionally charged for one person, but not others.
Taking inspiration from this exercise, I listed 48 values and categorized them into one of the eight dimensions listed on the Values & Motivations Wheel. By including six different terms for each dimension, I attempted to avoid the distortion of results based on one potentially triggering word.
For each dimension, there are three questions:
In the past two weeks, how have you spent most of your time?
In the past two weeks, how have you spent most of your mental energy?
In the past two weeks, how have you spent most of your money?
On their own, these questions would likely produce answers like “working,” “studying,” “paying rent,” etc. However, when the options are value-based and not activity-based, it begs the question…why? Why do you work? Perhaps you work for stability, wealth, impact, achievement, or sense of purpose. By discovering our “why,” we can be more intentional about our actions.
Once the test-taker chooses the values that best represent how they spend most of their time, money, and energy, they are then asked to prioritize these choices between opposing dimensions. Each dimension has a maximum score of 3 points, making it simple to visualize along the wheel.
If you would like to discover how to leverage your values to achieve more fulfillment and joy, book a Values & Motivations Assessment Session.