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