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