Aligning Your Actions with Your Values: A Practical Tool for Improving Mental Health and Fulfillment

Our values can bring meaning and purpose to our lives, and actively engaging in them can help alleviate anxiety and depression.

However, it's common for us to neglect certain values. One way to check if we're living in alignment with all of our values is by rating them on a scale of 1-10, and then comparing that to how consistently we've acted on those values in the past week.

To start, rate each of the following values on a scale of 1-10:

• Marriage, couples, and intimate relationships

• Parenting

• Other family relationships

• Friendships and social relationships

• Employment and meaningful work

• Education, training, and lifelong learning

• Recreation, hobbies, and creative and artistic expression

• Spirituality and religion

• Citizenship, community involvement, activism, and altruism

• Physical well-being, health, nutrition, and self-care

• Life organization, time management, discipline, and finances

• Other ___________

Now, go through the same list and rate on a scale of 1-10 how consistent your actions have been with these values in the past week.

If you notice any discrepancies between your values and actions, it's a good opportunity to identify behaviors that align with your neglected values and schedule them into the following week. For example, if you value marriage highly (10) but haven't been spending much time with your partner (6), you might schedule in a cooking date or game night. By aligning our actions with our values, we can not only reduce negative symptoms but also lead a more fulfilling life. If you need support in this process, Real Solutions Therapeutic Services can help. Click here to contact us for a free consultation.