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