As a Clinical Hypnotherapist and coach, I work with values every day. From time to time, I realize that my clients maintain two pretty serious misconceptions about values. Let's start by looking at each one, and then move into the activities that discover how to discover real values. That's what this article is all about.

Misconception 1. Everyone knows what his or her values are. That's wrong. This is such a common misconception that many consultants in the financial industry and many advisors are convinced that all they have to do is ask someone to name the things that are important to them, and Voila! They have values. It's not that simple. Good news for you, though, by the time you finish reading this article, you will know how to tell the difference between "faux values" and actual values.

Misconception 2. Many people approach values as though they were goals, qualities to achieve. That's wrong. Actual values are things you already have and you strive to maintain through your actions.