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