Core Values
The Day I Realised I Was Living Someone Else’s Life
When your daily life conflicts with your deepest Core Values, no amount of achievement will make you feel fulfilled.
Years ago, I hit a wall. From the outside, it looked like I had a life people would envy—work I was good at, a calendar full of commitments, and the kind of “success markers” we’re told to aim for. But inside, I was running on fumes.
One afternoon, I sat with my journal and asked myself the same question I now ask my clients: What actually matters most to me? What poured out surprised me. My highest Core Values—freedom, creativity, and connection—were nowhere to be found in my daily life. My days were structured around pleasing others, ticking boxes, and meeting expectations that weren’t even mine.
That was my lightbulb moment. And here’s the nugget I want to pass on to you: when your daily life conflicts with your deepest Core Values, no amount of achievement will make you feel fulfilled.
Your Core Values aren’t just pretty words for a vision board; they’re your compass. They point you toward the life that is yours to live. Without them, you can drift—saying yes when you mean no, chasing goals that look good on paper but leave you feeling hollow.
Once my clients name their true values, they feel lighter, clearer, more confident. Decisions that once felt agonising suddenly become obvious. The “shoulds” fall away. And life begins to align in ways that feel almost magical.
That’s why I’ve created a free guided meditation on Insight Timer to help you discover your own Core Values. It’s not just an intellectual exercise—it’s an experience. You’ll slow down, tune in, and let your own inner wisdom reveal what matters most. You can listen here: Discover Your Core Values – Insight Timer Meditation
And for those who want to go deeper, I’ve shared the full audio version of the Core Values chapter *(Chapter 6: Give Yourself Permission to Know What You Care About) *from my book Give Yourself Permission to Live Your Life exclusively for paid subscribers. In it, I walk you through the process step-by-step, with more personal stories and real client transformations that happened once they began living in alignment with what matters most.
Because when you’re anchored in your Core Values, you stop chasing every opportunity and start recognizing the right ones. You stop living someone else’s dream and start living your own.
Listen to the meditation here for free → https://insig.ht/k3V7KZGAKVb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share \nPaid subscribers: Get the complete Core Values chapter from my book in your inbox today.
Priya R. Kapoor is a life coach, author and speaker with over 20 years experience in the helping industry. She has a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and works as a coach and consultant with clients all over the world. In 2014, she created the coaching brand ‘Give Yourself Permission’ and, in the same year, published her first book ‘Give Yourself Permission to Live Your Life’ (Balboa Press). Please visit www.prkcoaching.com for more information on how to work with her. She is currently working on a new project called The Permission Studio and has recently started as a Teacher on Insight Timer - her profile can be found at https://insighttimer.com/priyakh
About the author
Priya Rana Kapoor is a life coach, author and speaker with over 20 years of experience in the helping industry. She holds a master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and works with clients across the US and internationally.
