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