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