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