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