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