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