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