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