Your inner revolution; How reclaiming your values can set you free
Activities to help you root into your rebellion
Hi! I’m Anna from The Burnout Rebellion 🌊 🍂. I’m here to help you navigate the pivot moments in your life. Whether it’s burnout, searching for your purpose or heading in a new direction, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
You know when you hit that pivot moment in your life, that moment when you know your life has to change? Well, I am living through that right now. On the 19th of July last year, I left my job with no plan other than to make my 5 and 85-year-old self proud. I share personal essays about my own journey, particularly my return to writing, research and nature, as well as providing tips, interviews and podcasts from others who’ve navigated this path. Join me as I share with you not only how you can change your life, but how you can also find a tribe of people doing the same. Welcome to the rebellion where anything is possible.
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It’s 2013. I’m sat in a room with 30 others. We have been told we are the leaders of the future, that it is up to us to change the world, without us it will surely collapse etc. etc. Everything seems very….urgent. In front of me, splayed across the desk, are hundreds of pieces of paper. Someone has spent a significant amount of time painstakingly cutting at least 50 pieces for each individual in the room. Words such as authenticity, freedom, responsibility, family and wisdom are written in bold letters. I wasn’t sure if I should be talking about my life or my leadership. Neither of which I knew much about.
As the minutes ticked by, I sat frozen. I take a glance over my shoulder. Everyone has their head down, scrupulously looking at each word. The highlighters are out. There are piles of yes and no. I look at my own very distinct stack. Having attempted to separate them initially, they’ve all ended up back in the same pile.
Anna you haven’t started.
No I haven’t. Well I did, but it didn’t quite work out.
Well why not?
They’re all very good words.
Yes which are your favourite?
My favourite?
You need to choose your top 5. Your top 5 values that will underpin your leadership.
Crikey, ok. How?
Well spend some time working out which you like the best.
The best…..hmmmm…ok.
Having gained experience since then not only as a leader and a leadership coach, but as a researcher in Psychology and ceremony holder for those who wish to meet themselves more deeply, I now recognise this exercise for what it is. Terrible.
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It is true that if we know our values, they can becoming a guiding compass. But to know your values is tricky and we need to say this out loud. In coaching we are asked far too often what our values are with the expectation that they should be known instantly, or you have somehow failed.
My ‘values’ have changed significantly over the last 12 years. Why? Well, when I looked at the list in that cramped basement of a training centre, of course I felt like I wanted freedom, adventure, ambition. I wanted to be the ultimate girl boss. Society told me that was what I wanted, and that everyone would be cheering if I was that. They’d be saying how successful I was and hitting the like button on Instagram with reckless abandon. She travels ✅ she’s got loads of money ✅ she has a house ✅ and the corporate suit ✅ . Blimey she’s done it.
Social media, cultural norms, and my peers have taught me who I should be externally, what makes a happy life. I had never trusted myself to know. I always looked to others to tell me. Some days it felt as if I was so far from the track, I had no idea where I was going. That was until I dropped into what Glennon Doyle calls ‘The Knowing’.
It has taken me years to begin to unpick what I have been conditioned to believe, years to listen to the voice inside of me and not think I was mad. And I am still working on it. Even yesterday I was tempted to return to a ‘proper job’ but as my knowing is so loud, it didn’t get past the first google search.
I am sharing some tricks of the trade with you today. My two most favourite activities (alongside meditation) that help me when I am stuck, and need to remember my core values.
How to use the activities;
The activities do not have to all be completed in one sitting, and they can be repeated over time.
You’ll need a list of values. I use these two from James Clear and Brené Brown. Internet searches and AI are useful for this too.
Paid Subscriber bonus: I’ll be sending out a full worksheet with additional activities, over 30 scenarios, and support in the paid subscriber round up at the end of the month. Sign up by the 31st May to receive it. (You’ll also automatically get access to the tutorial Beyond Burnout: A Path to Realignment and Renewal out on the 30th of May and the 7-day Kickstarter programme in June).
Activity 1: Meet your inner child
This photo fell out of an old album when I was in the midst of reassessing my life. I remember thinking the joy is just shining out of this girl, who is she? I completed the activity that I describe below, and the snowball effect began. If choosing a picture from your childhood isn’t for you, you can also choose a photo that shows you at your most joyful. Still struggling? Find a picture of someone you admire when they are joyful, and use that as a guide instead.
Instructions:
Find a Photograph: Locate a picture of yourself as a child, or a time when you felt truly joyful, free, or fulfilled. Paste it onto a plain document or stick on a piece of paper.
Annotate Around the Image:
What were you doing?
What made you feel alive in that moment?
What kind of person were you?
Use adjectives to describe yourself in that photo (e.g., bold, imaginative, kind, playful).
Reflection: What does this picture tell you about your true self?
Reflect on the values list from James Clear and Brené Brown. Write at least 10 values that resonate with your true self.
Activity 2: Exploring your values in life’s big decisions
I love this task. It’s my absolute favourite. You can imagine any scenario you like, you can take them from film, books or tv. Here I have given you a sample of 5 (if you sign up as a paid subscriber by the 31st of May you’ll get over 30 more too). These scenarios will serve to further affirm your values. You might add to the list, take some away, or start over completely.
Instructions: Work your way through the scenarios. Answer the questions and identify the values behind your decision.
At the end of the activity, look at your list from activity 1 and 2. How do they look? If there is a gap between them, why do you think that is?
It’s important to recognise there are no right or wrong answers to these scenarios. They are here to help you to feel into your values and to question them.
Scenario 1:
You’ve been given the opportunity to move to a new city for a fresh start, but it means leaving behind your best friends and family. You feel excited but also deeply conflicted. Do you take the leap or stay where you feel safe?
(Values: Courage, Adventure, Belonging, Family, Growth, Security)
Reflection Questions:
What fears or hopes come up when you think about moving?
How do your values influence your decision to stay or go?
What does “security” mean to you in this context?
How might this choice align with who you want to become?
Scenario 2:
After years in a relationship, you realise your needs and values have changed, and you’re no longer aligned with your partner. You care deeply for them but feel stuck. Do you initiate a difficult conversation about your future or avoid it to preserve peace?
(Values: Authenticity, Honesty, Compassion, Courage, Respect, Self-expression)
Reflection Questions:
What does authenticity look like for you here?
How can you balance honesty with compassion?
What might you gain or lose by speaking up?
How do you want to express your true self in this situation?
Scenario 3:
You are facing a crossroads between continuing in your current life path or dedicating time to heal past emotional wounds that have held you back. The healing process will be painful and slow but necessary. Do you commit to healing or keep pushing forward as you have been?
(Values: Self-care, Courage, Growth, Patience, Healing, Resilience)
Reflection Questions:
What are the costs and benefits of choosing healing now?
How do patience and resilience play a role in your choice?
What does self-care mean in this process?
How might this decision affect your growth journey?
Scenario 4:
A close family member is struggling and needs your support, but helping them means putting your own goals and wellbeing on hold. You want to be there for them but worry about losing yourself. How do you decide what to prioritise?
(Values: Compassion, Boundaries, Family, Self-care, Responsibility, Love)
Reflection Questions:
How do you define healthy boundaries in this situation?
What does responsibility look like without self-sacrifice?
How can you show love while honouring your own needs?
What values can guide your decision-making here?
Scenario 5:
You dream of pursuing a passion that doesn’t guarantee financial stability or social approval. Friends and family question your choice, urging you to be “practical.” Do you follow your passion or choose the safer path?
(Values: Passion, Independence, Courage, Security, Authenticity, Fulfilment)
Reflection Questions:
What does fulfilment feel like to you?
How do you weigh courage against security?
What does independence mean in this decision?
How might choosing authenticity change your life?
So what do I do now?
The really important thing about values work is that it takes time. Today you have started, and that is HUGE. These activities may have left you with 3 values or 100. Over the coming weeks, keep coming back to these tasks, reassess them and consider the following;
Is this value or response what I want or what I think other people want?
How does choosing this value feel in my body? Does it excite me, give me butterflies or feel a bit off?
If I could only live out 3 of them for the rest of my days what would they be?
Every time you need to make a decision think about whether you are displaying the values on your list and question everything.
In the coming weeks, we’ll have a community thread and discussions in the chat. Our values are our foundation, and we will keep returning to them. If you want to dive deeper don’t forget to join the paid membership.
Let me know how this landed with you today, looking forward to chatting in the comments.
Much love,
Anna xx
I love the photo exercise Anna! Your childhood photo made me double take at first because we had the exact same 3 piece suite 🤭
Very helpful exercises. Thank you!