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