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