Values and meaningful action / VAL-A18-1
Trying On a Direction — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind trying on a direction and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Avery experiments with creative play without deciding to become an artist.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. A tentative value can be explored through a reversible action.
The idea
A tentative value can be explored through a reversible action.
An ordinary example
Avery experiments with creative play without deciding to become an artist.
What this can look like
Choose a possible quality, test a small action, and review whether it feels meaningful rather than deciding in advance.
Check the fit
What did the experiment teach you about the direction? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
A value can guide ongoing action even when a goal is delayed or a barrier requires external support.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What did the experiment teach you about the direction?
Conceptual background
Valuing as a Choice — Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
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.