If I asked you right now to list off your family values in two minutes or less, would you be able to? Could you sit down and write a list if I gave you half an hour? What about a week?

We talk a lot on the Happy Family Movement (and in our life) about living intentionally.

We believe that life should be lived on purpose. But the first step to living on purpose is to figure out what you stand for! @happyfammvmt (Click to Tweet!)

My challenge for you this week is sit down as a family and define your values. Make a list. Write it down. Get creative with it. Hang it up somewhere in your house.

When you know what you believe in, it’s so much easier to make decisions that are in line with the kind of life you want to live. But where do you start when you’re trying to define your family’s values?

Here are some ideas to help you get started.

1. Ask each person in your family what they believe in. Write down everything.

2. Steal someone else’s list as a starting place if you need help. Here are some great starter lists: Zen Habits, Family Life, Bruce Feiler (check page 10).

3. Think about the times in your life when you have been particularly proud of someone in your family. What value were they living out in that moment?

4. Make a list of things your family does well and things your family does not do well but would like to improve. Both lists will help point you in the direction of what’s most important to your family.

5. Identify goals you have for raising your kids and your marriage, things your family loves to do together, and how you want to make the world a better place.

Once you’ve done everything above, take a look at the long list you’ve created and start narrowing down and shaping your own family values. Remember: this list will be ever-evolving as your family grows and changes, and that’s a good thing!

Please share your family values with us! We love hearing about them. Leave us a comment or post a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #hfmfamilyvalues.


Josh and Jenny Solar created The Happy Family Movement to encourage family togetherness and memorable family experiences through simple ideas for happy family living. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.