Loading...

July 28, 2026

What Is the Brene Brown Values List? Complete Guide to Building Social Confidence

Learn the meaning of the Brene Brown values list and how to use it daily. Get practical confidence‑building actions and quests.

Sean Dunn - Author

Sean Dunn

Confidence Expert

The Book of Numbers

Why Understanding the Brene Brown Values List Matters for Building Social Confidence

Understanding the Brene Brown values list is essential for building social confidence. If you're asking why it matters for confidence building, start here. Confidence is a skill, not a fixed trait. Brené Brown’s values list turns courage research into usable mindsets, not vague ideals. That makes values practical guides you can test in conversations and work settings (Dare to Lead – List of Values). Solis Quest's behavior-first approach mirrors this values-to-action idea.

This article shows how to translate those values into daily micro-actions rather than passive reflection. Solis Quest is designed to reduce hesitation and encourage practice through short, repeatable prompts. Solis Quest is a mobile-first app (★ 4.8 on the App Store) that turns values into micro-actions—learn more or download to get started. Brown places values alongside vulnerability, trust, and resilience as core courage skillsets (Brené Brown on the 4 Skillsets of Courage). Executives recommend naming two core values and converting them into observable behaviors (Leading with Grounded Confidence – Wharton).

Brene Brown values list

Core Definition and Explanation of the Brene Brown Values List

Brené Brown defines a value as “a way of being or believing that we hold most important.” She emphasizes values describe how we show up, not a set of rules to follow. Values act as daily guides for behavior and help you choose actions that match your priorities (Dare to Lead – List of Values).

Her values list is a curated menu of words people can use to name what matters. The downloadable PDF includes 100+ values and is often shared in workshops and exercises (Values List PDF). Brown presents the list as a practical tool to support courage and vulnerability. She explores living these values in depth on her podcast (Living Into Our Values).

Practically, values act as behavioral anchors. Naming a value makes it easier to pick observable actions in conversations, meetings, and relationships. Participants often report increased self‑awareness after identifying values, showing the exercise’s practical effect (Dare to Lead – List of Values). That is the core meaning behind the Brene Brown values list definition and core meaning: words that point you to what to do next.

For people who want to turn values into practice, Solis Quest applies the same principle. Solis Quest's behavior‑first approach helps you convert named values into small, repeatable social actions you can practice regularly. Learn more about Solis Quest's approach to using values as behavioral anchors. See how that can fit into your daily practice.

Key Components and Elements of the Brene Brown Values List

Brené Brown’s values list names traits that guide how you show up in relationships. Four components especially support social confidence: courage, empathy, authenticity, and boundaries. Her descriptions link each value to real behavior you can practice (Dare to Lead – List of Values).

Courage

  • Courage → initiate uncomfortable conversations. Behavioral anchor: open a short, honest check‑in after a tense interaction.

This is a small, repeatable behavior you can practice today. It trains you to start difficult conversations without waiting for the problem to grow.

Try this four-step routine:

  • Step 1 — Pause and pick a moment: wait until you have privacy and a calm tone of voice.
  • Step 2 — Open with a brief check‑in: a one‑line opener like, “Can we clear something up from earlier?”
  • Step 3 — State one specific observation and your intent: “When X happened, I felt Y. I want to understand what happened.”
  • Step 4 — Invite response and agree next steps: ask, “How do you see it?” and suggest a small, practical next action.

Empathy

  • Empathy → listen without judgment. Behavioral anchor: repeat the speaker’s main point before sharing your view.

Authenticity

  • Authenticity → express true opinions. Behavioral anchor: use “I think” or “I feel” to state your position in meetings.

Boundaries

  • Boundaries → say no when needed. Behavioral anchor: decline one low‑priority request this week with a brief reason.

The full Brené Brown catalog contains more than 100 distinct values, giving a wide menu to personalize your confidence plan (Values List PDF). Pick values that match your daily contexts, then attach one micro‑habit to each. That pairing turns abstract principles into repeatable actions that build comfort through exposure and repetition.

Solis Quest helps you translate chosen values into bite‑sized practice by nudging real interactions, not passive reading. Learn more about Solis Quest’s approach to grounding values in daily behavior and how that can help you build steady social confidence.

How the Brene Brown Values List Works: General Process for Daily Use

Brené Brown’s values work translates cleanly into a repeatable daily practice. A practical four‑step routine inspired by Brown’s work you can use each week to turn values into action and measurable confidence (Dare to Lead – List of Values). Below is the practical process for how to use Brene Brown values list in daily confidence practice.

  1. Select one value per week Narrowing to one value reduces decision friction. Example: choose “courage” or “integrity” as this week’s focus.
  2. Create a concrete micro-quest (example: ask a colleague a 2-minute question) Design a short, specific behavior that embodies the value. Example: ask a teammate for one piece of feedback during a coffee break.

  3. Reflect on the experience using guided prompts Use brief questions to note what felt hard and what worked. Example: “What did I do differently? What surprised me?”

  4. Log completion to build consistency and streaks Track small wins to reinforce habit formation. Example: mark daily attempts and review weekly progress.

Living into values aligns what you do with what you believe, and that alignment builds confidence over time (Living Into Our Values). Solis Quest structures these steps with daily prompts and lightweight reflections. Solis Quest helps you turn these steps into repeatable micro-practices and regular reflection, so consistency matters more than intensity. To explore how value-based micro-quests can fit your routine, learn more about Solis Quest’s approach to building social confidence through daily action.

Common Use Cases for Applying the Brene Brown Values List

Brené Brown’s curated values list maps cleanly onto everyday social situations (Dare to Lead – List of Values). Use her short exercises to pick one or two guiding values for a week of practice (Living Into Our Values). A simple Values Check—identify, prioritize, then align behavior—keeps actions focused and measurable (LinkedIn Article – Brené Brown Values Missing Link).

  • Networking events – use Courage to approach strangers. Try a short intro and one curiosity question; expect a quick connection and less hesitation.
  • Team meetings – apply Authenticity to voice ideas. Frame your point as a contribution and name one expected outcome; expect clearer communication and alignment.

  • Dating – practice Empathy with open-ended questions. Ask about feelings or stories rather than facts; expect deeper rapport and smoother follow-ups.

  • Conflict – employ Boundaries to set limits. State a specific boundary calmly and request a change; expect reduced resentment and clearer expectations.

Solis Quest helps you turn values into concrete micro-actions that fit daily life. Solis Quest is designed to support steady practice and habit formation for individuals and can also be used in group contexts. Learn more about Solis Quest’s approach to using values as weekly prompts to build confidence through action.

When exploring related concepts to Brene Brown values list confidence building, three practical ideas recur. Each one links values work to repeated action and measurable skill growth.

  • Growth mindset → belief that social skill improves with practice. A growth mindset frames abilities as improvable through effort and feedback. This outlook increases willingness to practice social skills and supports values-based work (Fountly – Growth Mindset and Vulnerability).

  • Habit stacking → attach a new value-quest to an existing routine. Habit stacking lowers friction by linking micro-quests to things you already do. This makes daily value actions easier to keep (James Clear – Habit Stacking).

  • Exposure therapy → repeated, safe discomfort builds tolerance. Controlled, repeated exposure reduces avoidance and increases tolerance for social stress. Evidence-based exposure approaches can reduce anxiety by building tolerance over time, which validates gradual practice (HelpGuide – Exposure Therapy Overview).

These three ideas strengthen the practical logic behind values-based practice. Solis Quest helps translate values into repeatable micro-actions that build social confidence over time. Users using Solis Quest experience steadier momentum as small habits compound. Learn more about Solis Quest's approach to turning values into daily practice and making confidence a skill you train.

Examples and Applications: Turning Values into Real‑World Quests

Turning the Brene Brown values list into practical quests for confidence helps you move from intention to action. Brené Brown provides a downloadable values list and emphasizes practicing values daily (Dare to Lead – List of Values). A 30-day values-quest can help many people notice meaningful gains in confidence (Living Into Our Values – Podcast). Practical guides show habit-stacking templates and short micro-quests for values work (Medium – Brené Brown Values and the Missing Link; Greg Million Blog – Brené Brown’s Value Exercise). Solis Quest applies this behavior-first approach to turn values into short, guided actions. If you searched for Brene Brown values list practical quests for confidence, try these ready-to-use micro-quests.

  • Courage Quest: Initiate a 2-minute conversation with a coworker you rarely talk to. Cue: morning break; Action: ask about their work; Reward: note one new connection; reflect on discomfort and stack after email.
  • Empathy Quest: Ask a friend about their day and reflect on emotional cues. Cue: evening check-in; Action: ask about their day and note cues; Reward: deeper understanding; reflect briefly and stack before bed.
  • Authenticity Quest: Share a personal opinion in a meeting, then note the reaction. Cue: first meeting; Action: share a brief opinion; Reward: clarity and presence; note reactions and add to your pre-meeting ritual.
  • Boundaries Quest: Say no to an extra task and notice the relief. Cue: when asked for extra work; Action: say no politely; Reward: relief; notice feelings and stack after lunch.

Run these micro-quests in Solis Quest to track streaks and reflections.

Use quick reflections after each quest to record one insight and one feeling. Small, repeated actions compound into visible confidence. Learn more about Solis Quest's approach to turning values into daily quests for steady confidence.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps for Using the Brene Brown Values List

The Brene Brown values list works best as a behavior-first toolkit, not a theory-only exercise. Pick one value and turn it into a single micro-quest tied to a real interaction. Do the micro-quest, reflect briefly, and record one observable change. Consistency beats intensity; daily micro-actions compound into steady gains. Brown frames the list as lived practice (Dare to Lead – List of Values) and stresses reflection in her podcast (Living Into Our Values). Solis Quest translates values into daily quests and measurable progress for action-focused users. Try a Courage micro-quest today: start one brief conversation, notice the feeling, and repeat. Learn more about Solis Quest's approach to turning values into repeatable practice.