Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for anger and provides direction when anger removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Anger
Anger often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when anger has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult anger periods
- A basis for action independent of how anger makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Anger
Ask yourself: 'If my anger were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Anger
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when anger is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite anger, are more sustainable than waiting for anger to lift first.