Guest blog by Dr Ray Owen
Many people would – truthfully – say “I value my health”.
For those of us applying CBS / ACT approaches, there can be something of a trap here, because we use the word Value in a slightly different way to common speech (that’s why I often capitalise it, to mark the specific use). For us, Values are intrinsically rewarding ways of acting, that can usually be applied across contexts and that form an important part of how we choose to be in the world: things like “being caring” or “being creative“. These aren’t quite the same as “I value my health“.
It can help to think a little more widely, of ‘what matters‘ to the person. If we ask that question directly, we may get different kinds of answers. People may say things like “my family matters” or “my work matters” – areas of life that we sometimes call domains. They may say “giving my kids a good start in life matters” or “making a success of my business matters“, which we might see as overarching goals. Health may be an important domain for people (especially when it is impaired), and “having good health” will for some be an important overarching goal.
Is health ever a value in the ACT meaning of the word?
It can be, in the sense of acting healthily. Some people genuinely enjoy keeping fit, attending carefully to an optimal diet, avoiding things which may cause illness or harm. They find it intrinsically rewarding, it is how they choose to be (i.e. it is not imposed by others), and it can apply across several contexts (work, leisure, holidaying, parenting and so on). “Acting healthily” therefore meets our definition of a Value. For many (most?) of us, however, being healthy is more of a ‘means to an end’ – to live longer and independently, to be fit enough to visit places, play with any grandkids we end up having. And each of these personal goals of course is shaped by other Values.
Why does the distinction matter from a CBS perspective?
Because if health is a means to an end (or a very sensible aversion to being ill) then we can’t count on the intrinsic motivation of a true Value providing energy and determination that can be harnessed to e.g. live healthily, monitor blood sugars, take medication. We must instead help the person connect with those longer-term goals and the other Values driving the goals in order to help them choose the behaviours which will be long-term workable for them.
And now, it’s time for me to go to the gym. Dammit.
Ray joins us this January for his intermediate level ACT for physical health problems training. His introductory version is available to start straight away as an on-demand course too and if you sign up to both at the same time you will save 20% off them as a bundle!