Living in Alignment: Why Your Values Matter More Than You Think

Have you ever achieved something you thought would make you happy, only to feel strangely unfulfilled afterwards? Maybe you ticked off a big career goal, moved into your dream house, or finally had enough financial stability to relax, but the joy didn’t last. That fleeting sense of satisfaction is something many of us experience when we chase goals that aren't deeply aligned with who we are.

So what does bring lasting happiness? While it’s true that a certain amount of money and stability improves wellbeing, research shows that once your basic needs are met, more money doesn't make you significantly happier. In fact, what matters most isn’t external success at all, it’s living in alignment with your values.

Why Living in Alignment Matters More Than Achievement

Living in alignment means your daily actions reflect what you truly care about. It's the difference between performing life and actually living it. When your decisions, relationships, and routines are grounded in your core values, life feels more meaningful, peaceful, and energising. That sense of internal coherence, where what you do matches who you are, isn’t just a nice idea. It’s vital to your mental and emotional health. Misalignment, on the other hand, can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, burnout, and a vague but persistent sense of dissatisfaction.

The Neuroscience of Alignment

Neuroscience backs this up. When you live in alignment with your values, your brain experiences greater coherence between intention and action. This activates the brain’s reward system in a deeper, more sustainable way than short-term pleasure. It also reduces internal conflict, which lightens the load on your nervous system and boosts emotional resilience.

When your behaviour is not aligned with your inner truth, your brain picks up on the dissonance. This disconnect can create a subtle stress response, leading to decision fatigue, low mood, and even a tendency to self-sabotage. Over time, that misalignment erodes wellbeing in ways you may not even consciously notice.

What the Research Says

A wide body of research supports the idea that living in alignment with your values is one of the strongest predictors of lasting happiness and fulfillment. According to a longitudinal study by the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the clearest findings over 80+ years is that relationships and a sense of meaning, not wealth or status, are the greatest contributors to long-term wellbeing.

Similarly, studies in positive psychology have shown that individuals who act in alignment with their personal values experience:

• Greater life satisfaction

• Lower levels of anxiety and depression

• More fulfilling relationships

• Stronger motivation and follow-through

A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who regularly reflected on and acted in accordance with their values reported significantly higher levels of wellbeing than those who didn’t. And research from Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research shows that purpose-driven living is not only good for mental health, but also enhances physical resilience and cognitive clarity.

In short: once your basic needs are met, happiness comes not from having more, but from living with meaning.

How to Reconnect with What Matters

So how do you begin living in alignment?

1. Identify Your Core Values: Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you, not what you think should matter. Think about times you’ve felt most alive, grounded, or proud of yourself. What values were present?

2. Map Your Current Reality: Take an honest look at how you're spending your time and energy. Which parts of your life feel aligned? Which ones feel off-track?

3. Start Small: You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. Begin with micro-shifts: a small change to your routine, a boundary you uphold, a yes or no that better reflects your truth.

4. Revisit and Reflect: Alignment isn’t a one-time fix, it’s an ongoing practice. Your values may evolve. Your circumstances will change. Schedule time to check in with yourself regularly.

xxx Anna xxx