Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Values-Based Living
Published: 19/6/26
By Secure Minds Psychology (© Secure Minds Psychology)
Maybe you have been feeling a bit lost recently. Perhaps you feel you’ve lost your spark or maybe you feel like your day to day life doesn’t give you the same satisfaction that it used to. Maybe you’ve never felt you found your capital “P” purpose in life. These feelings are all normal and can come up in different seasons of our lives. Despite what we have been led to believe, finding your “purpose” doesn’t have to be an epiphany moment or something you’ve known since childhood.
In this blog, I would like to briefly explore this idea that your purpose instead can be about choosing directions that reflect what matters most to you.
Since we are human, what we want in life and what matters to us can change. This means that we might need “recalibrating” from time to time. So how can we assist you in clarifying your direction?
Firstly, identify your values. Values are qualities of action. Examples of your values could be; kindness, curiosity, humility, creativity, connection, growth (the list is endless).
- It might be useful to rank your values from most to least important.
To put this in the context of life, your goal may be to run a successful business and your values may be courage, hard-work or personal growth. However, in the case that the business fails, your core values can still be expressed. Meaning then emerges from repeatedly acting in line with those values.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify our goals and what matters to us, and sometimes, through values work, you may find that some of your goals don’t align with your values. Our psychologists can help you explore and define your core values, and support you in setting meaningful goals that align with them.
Many of our therapists draw on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which places greater emphasis on values than on specific outcomes. ACT encourages acceptance of difficult thoughts, feelings, and circumstances, while helping individuals commit to actions that reflect what matters most to them. Rather than focusing solely on achieving particular results, ACT supports living in accordance with your values and building a meaningful, fulfilling life.
To summarise: Purpose can be an ongoing direction rather than a final destination. Your purpose can change depending on your season of life.
Try some values work: Try asking yourself, What kind of person do I want to be? and What qualities do I want to bring to my relationships, work, learning, and community? Spend some time writing down your goals and values and see if they align.
Before you take action: Firstly ask yourself, does this align with my values? Or is it a distraction that takes me further away? Is this my value or someone else’s value?
If you are feeling stuck or uncertain about your direction, feel free to reach out to us, book an appointment and begin exploring what matters most to you.
Our psychologist are based in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, in Beaconsfield and are available for face to face and telehealth psychology appointments.
