Stage 3 · Lesson 1 of 7
Values are directions, goals are destinations
In acceptance and commitment therapy, a well-researched approach that Russ Harris writes about clearly, values are described as directions, like heading west, while goals are destinations along the way. "Get a job at a big company" is a goal: you reach it and it is done.
"Keep learning", "look after my family" or "build useful things" are values: you never finish them, you live by them or you drift from them. This matters because people who reach a goal that does not fit their values often feel strangely empty. Values also help when goals fail: you can still act on "keep learning" after a rejection.
Common trapwriting a list of goals, titles and salaries, and calling them your values.
A question to check yourself and an AI practice session come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
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Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).