Using Values to Simplify Decisions

I was a freshman in high school when our baseball team won its first-ever state championship. With over 2,500 students, CHS usually felt big, foreign, and divided. That day, everyone came together to celebrate, and for the first time it felt like a family.

Having been born with serious FOMO, I wasn’t about to miss the after-party that evening. I got dropped off, a mix of excited and nervous for my first high school party. There had been others that year, but, truth be told, I hadn’t been invited.

I found my brother, congratulated him on his role in the team’s success, and then spotted a group of friends. We started talking about the game, and soon I noticed everyone holding the same red cup. A friend saw me noticing and offered me one. As I lifted it to take a sip, the stale, bitter smell of beer hit me.

I froze. Everyone watched, waiting to see what I’d do next. I hadn’t anticipated this moment, and suddenly I was stuck between what I was “supposed” to do and what I knew I should do. Then, a memory surfaced.

Back in 8th grade, a friend had gotten in trouble for smoking behind the school. I was upset, and my teacher, Mrs. Lute, held me after class to talk about it. Our conversation shifted to partying in general. She told me she had friends who drank in high school, but she waited until she was of legal age. Then she said something I’ll never forget: “I never had to choose whether or not to drink. I just let my values decide.”

Snapping back to the party, I handed the cup back and joked, “I don’t know what’s in there, but it smells like it’s gone bad.” I spent the rest of the night laughing with friends and politely waving off red cups with, “I’m good.”

Last week I wrote about decision fatigue. Indecision itself can drain us more than the consequences of a single choice. So how do we fight it? Mrs. Lute’s advice still holds: values-based decision making.

Here’s a simple framework for practicing it:

Name

Write down your top 3–5 values. No fewer than three, no more than five. As Aaron Tippin tells us, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”

Notice

When faced with a decision, pause and ask: “Which of my values matters most here?” This moment of awareness is what turns choices from automatic reactions into intentional living.

Navigate

Act in alignment with that value. The decision often becomes clearer when filtered through your values instead of simply asking, “What do I feel like doing?”

Of course, not every decision requires values. Some are purely practical: time, budget, or logistics. And when the stakes are low, like ordering at a restaurant, just pick something and move on.

But when the stakes are higher, values help us decide more quickly, avoid indecision, and reduce decision fatigue.

Because when you know what you stand for, you know what to choose.

Fact

Studies show that most adults can list dozens of values, but fewer than 20% have clearly identified their top 5 guiding values—and even fewer live them out consistently in daily decisions.

Action

Write your top 3 value down. Under each, write one action you can take today to reflect it.

Question

When trying to identify your values, ask yourself: “What qualities do I admire most in people I respect??

Quote

“When values are clear, decisions are easy.” - Roy E. Disney