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