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