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