VALUES VS GOALS — ORIGINAL ACTION-SORTING RECORD
Not a character score, diagnosis or tested treatment.

SITUATION / ACTUAL CONDITIONS:
STATEMENT I AM SORTING:
CATEGORY OR MIXED / UNCERTAIN PART:
VALUE OR DIRECTION — HOW I WANT TO ACT:
GOAL OR OUTCOME — WHAT WOULD COUNT AS FINISHED:
ONE ACTION I CAN CONSIDER:
WHAT DEPENDS ON OTHER PEOPLE OR CONDITIONS:
DUTY / CONSENT / INFORMATION TO CHECK:
SMALLER OR ALTERNATIVE OPTION:
WHAT I ACTUALLY DID / WHAT REMAINS UNKNOWN:

FOUR WORKING CATEGORIES
Value or direction | How you want to act toward yourself, others or the world | Be fair when sharing work | An ongoing quality; not a finished prize
Goal or outcome | Something you aim to complete or obtain | Agree the task allocation by Friday | Can have a completion point; may depend on others
Action | A specific thing you do or say | Ask what each person can realistically take on | May be one goal or a step toward a larger one
Needs more context | A broad label, feeling wish or mixed statement | Success; family; I want to feel confident | Clarify the meaning before choosing a category

SIX FICTIONAL EXAMPLES
Learning | Be curious and careful | Finish the first lesson | Read one example; note the step I do not understand
Friendship | Be caring and respectful | Arrange a mutually welcome catch-up | Ask whether a call or another format suits them
Shared work | Be fair | Agree a feasible allocation | Ask what is already assigned and what each person can take on
Rest | Treat myself with care | End this work period when practical | Save the stopping point and check any actual duty first
Disagreement | Be honest and respectful | Clarify the disputed statement | State the part I know; ask about the part I missed
Application | Act carefully and responsibly | Obtain a place on a course | Check one actual requirement; keep the admission decision uncertain

TEN QUESTIONS AND ANSWER NOTES
1. “Be fair when allocating shared work.” Which category fits the wording?
Value or direction.
It describes a quality in how work is shared, not a completed allocation. You still need the actual responsibilities and people’s input before choosing an action.

2. “Agree the shared-task allocation by Friday.” Is the deadline what makes this a value?
No. It is a goal or outcome.
An agreed allocation can have a completion point. A deadline makes timing specific but does not change an outcome into an ongoing quality.

3. “Call my friend tomorrow.” Must this belong only in the action box?
No. It is an action and can also be a small goal.
Completing a call is observable, but whether it expresses care depends on context and the other person’s wishes. Category overlap is allowed.

4. “Family.” Does this identify exactly how you want to act?
Not yet. More context is needed.
The noun names people or an area of life. Caring, honest, protective or boundaried behavior may mean different things in a particular situation.

5. “I want to feel confident before asking a question.” Is confidence an action?
The sentence names a desired feeling.
You can separately consider a clear question or preparation step. The worksheet does not promise confidence or require a feeling to change before every action.

6. “Be caring by arranging a mutually welcome visit this month.” How should it be sorted?
It combines a direction and a goal.
Separate caring from the proposed visit. If the visit becomes unavailable, the direction can remain while you review other feasible, welcome options.

7. “Get a qualification.” Without a date, is it automatically a value?
No. It still names an outcome.
A goal can be unfinished or unscheduled. The direction could involve learning carefully or curiosity, but that has not been specified by the qualification alone.

8. “Everyone must approve of my explanation.” Can your action record guarantee this?
No. Approval depends on other people.
You can consider clear, honest wording and relevant feedback. Their response remains outside what your own action can guarantee.

9. A goal was unsuccessful. Does that establish that the chosen value was false or that you must feel positive?
No. Keep the result, interpretation and direction separate.
Review actual conditions and available choices without making the outcome a verdict on your character or demanding a positive lesson.

10. Being helpful seems to conflict with an existing duty. Must the worksheet choose “do more”?
No. Check the duty, capacity and people affected.
A feasible clarification, honest limit or request about priorities may fit the situation. The value word itself cannot settle the responsibility.

SOURCES
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003927
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/mindfulness/