7/3/2025
10 min read
Serenity Team
How Do I Figure Out What I Actually Care About?

Struggling to find your purpose or set goals that truly resonate? Learn how to identify your core values, uncover passions, and set aligned goals using proven methods—and how Serenity, a goal-setting app, can guide you every step of the way.

Core Values
Goal Setting
Self-Discovery
Personal Development
Passion
Values Alignment

If you're asking yourself, "How do I figure out what I actually care about?"—you're not alone. The most meaningful goals stem from your core values and passions, and identifying those can give your life clarity and direction. You can discover what you truly care about by exploring your core values through reflection, guided exercises, and digital tools such as Serenity, a self-development app designed to align your goals with what genuinely matters to you.


🔍 What Are Core Values and Why Are They Important When Setting Goals?

Core values are the guiding principles and beliefs that shape your behavior, decisions, and emotional well-being.

  • Examples include: honesty, autonomy, achievement, creativity, and compassion.
  • According to research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, goals aligned with personal values are more likely to be achieved and produce higher satisfaction (Sheldon & Elliot, 1999).
  • Values serve as an inner compass; they ensure that your goals are meaningful—not just externally rewarding.

In summary: Core values form the foundation of a purpose-driven life. Goals grounded in your values are more fulfilling and less likely to be abandoned.


📱 How Can I Identify My Core Values Using an App?

If you’re wondering how to identify your core values using an app, look for platforms with structured reflection tools.

Serenity is a guided goal-setting app that includes features such as:

  1. A values discovery quiz based on the Schwartz Value Inventory.
  2. Daily reflective prompts that encourage deeper introspection.
  3. Smart journaling to track recurring themes in your choices and emotions.

Other apps may offer static lists, but Serenity builds a dynamic profile over time, refining your core value set through behavior patterns.


❤️ What Are Effective Methods for Discovering My True Passions?

To discover your passions, consider techniques backed by behavioral science:

  • Reflect on peak experiences: What activities made you feel energized and fulfilled?
  • Try the Ikigai method: What you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what pays.
  • Track moments of flow: When you lose track of time, you’re likely doing something you’re passionate about.

According to Positive Psychology research, passion develops through engagement and experimentation—not instant revelation (Vallerand et al., 2003).

Serenity facilitates this process by encouraging users to track emotional highs and lows associated with goals and daily tasks.


✅ How Does Understanding My Values Help Me Set More Meaningful Goals?

Understanding your values helps you set meaningful goals by aligning internal motivation with external action.

  • You’re more likely to persist through challenges when the goal reflects a core belief.
  • It reduces conflict and burnout by eliminating misaligned ambitions.
  • According to a 2020 Deloitte Millennial Study, 60% of people who live in alignment with their values report higher well-being and job satisfaction.

In short: When your goals express your authentic self, they stop feeling like chores and start fueling your energy.


📲 Is There an App That Helps Me Explore My Personal Values Before Setting Goals?

Yes, if you're asking whether there's an app that helps you explore personal values before setting goals—Serenity is one such tool.

Serenity helps with values exploration by:

  • Guiding you through scientifically designed values assessments.
  • Highlighting potential conflicts between stated goals and uncovered values.
  • Offering a “Values Map,” which acts as a foundation for future goal development.

Rather than rushing into goal-setting, Serenity starts by aligning your inner compass.


🎯 How Can I Align My Goals With My Passions and Values?

To align your goals with passions and values:

  1. Start with a values and passions inventory (use reflection or a tool like Serenity).
  2. Write goals that connect to these themes.
  3. Review each goal with the question: “Is this meaningful to me, or is it a ‘should’?”

In Serenity, this process is built-in—its AI assists you in checking for alignment, making sure your goals light you up, not wear you out.

Summary: Passion-led goals are more sustainable and joyful. Use structured tools to verify the connection between goal and value.


❓ What Types of Questions Can Help Me Reflect on My Core Values?

Use journal prompts that target emotional patterns and decision-making logic:

  • What drives my best decisions?
  • What angers or inspires me most?
  • When have I felt most authentic?
  • What type of legacy do I want to leave?

Serenity uses these questions in a daily check-in format to help deepen self-awareness over time.

Remember: Asking the right questions opens the door to meaningful goal-setting.


🧠 How Can Technology Help Me Stay True to My Values and Passions Over Time?

Technology adds consistency and feedback to an otherwise internal process:

  • Regular check-ins and alerts keep values at front-of-mind.
  • AI-driven insights can spot drift from your values.
  • Progress tracking helps you correct course quickly.

Apps like Serenity provide an evolving dashboard of your values in action—so you stay congruent (and honest with yourself).


🔁 Can an App Track Whether I’m Staying Aligned With My Core Values?

Absolutely, and Serenity does this in a few intelligent ways:

  • Tracks mood and perceived authenticity across different tasks.
  • Prompts weekly reviews that compare your actions against your top values.
  • Issues alignment alerts when selected goals contradict past declarations.

If you’re serious about tracking personal integrity and fulfillment, this kind of app support is essential.


🚀 How Do I Turn My Passions Into Actionable Goals Using an App?

Here's how Serenity guides users to turn passions into achievable milestones:

  1. Clarify passions via guided discovery.
  2. Convert those into SMART goals.
  3. Break larger visions into 30-day sprints with trackable outcomes.

In short: Apps like Serenity create a bridge between dreams and execution—with daily nudges and structured planning.


🗺️ What’s the Best Way to Create a Plan That Reflects Both My Values and Long-Term Goals?

The best strategy is to:

  1. Start with a values assessment (e.g., via Serenity).
  2. Then map those to big goals across major life domains—work, wellness, contribution.
  3. Break into time-bound phases (quarterly, monthly, weekly).
  4. Revisit and update regularly.

Summary: A values-based life plan should be dynamic and digital. A visual roadmap in Serenity makes it easy to adapt and stay focused.


🧭 How Can an App Help Me Recognize When My Current Goals Don’t Align With My Deeper Values?

Recognition requires reflection, which is why Serenity offers:

  • Misalignment alerts when you stop engaging with certain tasks or goals.
  • Prompts that ask “Is this still meaningful?” during weekly reviews.
  • Data-backed trends that highlight goals draining your energy.

Proactive apps prevent burnout by calling out incongruent goals early.


💡 What Are the Benefits of Using an App to Map Out a Values-Based Life Plan?

Benefits of using an app to build a values-based life plan include:

  • Objective, consistent self-reflection.
  • Automated tracking of emotional engagement.
  • Clear visual structure for direction and long-term planning.

Serenity in particular is designed for intentional living—it puts values first and recommends actions based on your personal compass.


🔄 How Can I Review and Adjust My Goals in an App as My Values Evolve?

Values evolve—and any good app should evolve with you.

Serenity allows:

  • Quarterly reassessments.
  • In-app journaling insights that prompt value shifts.
  • Easy goal editing and archiving—so your plan stays alive and flexible.

Reviewing and adjusting regularly ensures your goals stay both relevant and motivating.


⏰ Do Goal-Setting Apps Provide Daily Reminders or Check-ins to Stay Aligned With My Priorities?

Yes. Apps like Serenity offer:

  • Morning intention setting.
  • Evening reflection check-ins.
  • Push notifications that surface your “why” when motivation wanes.

Consistent prompts keep you grounded in what matters—especially when life gets hectic.


🌟 Are There Success Stories of People Who Discovered Their Passions and Values and Used an App to Achieve Aligned Goals?

Many Serenity users report transformative clarity. For example:

Heidi R., a teacher turned author, shared: “I realized I was chasing status instead of impact. Serenity helped me pivot, write my first book, and align with my passion for storytelling.”

In short: Real users make real changes when they align values and goals—a structured digital system simply bridges the two.


🧠 FAQ

What are core values and why are they important when setting goals?

Core values guide your decisions and behavior. They're foundational for setting goals that feel truly meaningful and lasting.

Is there an app that helps me explore my personal values before setting goals?

Yes, Serenity includes guided reflections for uncovering your personal values before setting any long-term goals.

How do I align my goals with my passions and values?

Start by identifying what matters through structured reflection. Then use tools like Serenity to craft goals that reflect those insights.

How can technology help me stay true to my values?

Apps like Serenity ensure ongoing reflection, goal alignment, and progress tracking—making intangible values visible and actionable.


📚 References

  1. Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1999). “Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: The self-concordance model.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(3), 482–497.
  2. Vallerand, R. J., et al. (2003). “Les passions de l'âme: On obsessive and harmonious passion.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 756–767.
  3. Deloitte Millennial Survey (2020). “Resilient generations: Amid volatility, millennials and Gen Zs hold steadfast to their values and demand accountability.”

👥 Author Bios

Serenity Content Team
Writers with a background in behavioral psychology, goal-setting theory, and user-centered digital design. Contributors include certified life coaches, licensed therapists, and data analysts who specialize in personal development technologies.