Values

This step will help you identify and explore your values—the things that bring your life meaning. Other sections will help you figure out a plan to carry your pain with you while you live your life according to your values.

What are values?

• Our values are what bring meaning to our lives and are important because they are our guiding principles.
• Each person has their own unique set of chosen values.
• It is up to you to explore what is most important to you so that you can take action toward your values.

What do values have to do with pain?

• Struggling to get rid of your chronic pain or fighting to avoid your pain can take you away from living out your chosen values. The pain becomes the focus instead of the things most important to you.
• Identifying your values helps you to then figure out what actions you can take to live out these values. You can then commit to taking these actions (large or small) to make sure you are intentionally doing the things most important and meaningful to you.
• Identifying your values is the first step to moving the focus off of controlling your pain and on to things that you want to focus on— things that give your life meaning and purpose.