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