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