Which of the following best defines values?

The choice that defines values as ideas that guide how one lives captures the essence of what values are. Values are fundamental beliefs that shape our principles and influence our behavior. They serve as internal compasses that guide decisions, actions, and interpretations of experiences in life. When individuals identify their core values, they provide a framework for making choices aligned with their beliefs and priorities.

The other choices, while they touch on aspects related to morality or behavior, do not encapsulate the broad and guiding nature of values in the same way. Rules imposed by society refer to external regulations, beliefs about what is right and wrong are more specific to ethical frameworks rather than a broader guiding principle, and rituals are practices that may stem from cultural or religious backgrounds but do not define values themselves. Values, therefore, encompass a wide array of beliefs that underpin a person's way of life and decision-making.