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