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