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