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