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