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