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