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