Adlerian work / ADL-A18-1
Values behind Striving — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind values behind striving and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Morgan wants a promotion for security and also fears being overlooked.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Ambition can be examined for meaning, social context, and personal cost.
The idea
Ambition can be examined for meaning, social context, and personal cost.
An ordinary example
Morgan wants a promotion for security and also fears being overlooked.
What this can look like
Distinguish a valued aim from a need to prove superiority or avoid shame without labeling either motive as your whole identity.
Check the fit
Which motive would you like to give more influence? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
Encouragement is not reassurance that everything will work out, and contribution does not determine human worth.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- Which motive would you like to give more influence?
Conceptual background
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application — Adler Graduate School
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.