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