Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for aphantasia and provides direction when aphantasia removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Aphantasia
Aphantasia often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when aphantasia has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult aphantasia periods
- A basis for action independent of how aphantasia makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Aphantasia
Ask yourself: 'If my aphantasia 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 Aphantasia
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when aphantasia is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite aphantasia, are more sustainable than waiting for aphantasia to lift first.