Doing the right thing

[Guest guest]

Still thinking about Values and thinking about how I've acted in the

past. I'm remembering times when my VALUES were obvious to me. For

instance, in the months before my father died, I had a very clear

sense that I wanted to be a good son -- I wanted to be there for my

parents because I knew that if I wasn't there I would regret it later

(even though I was full of conflict about both of my parents and it

was a miserable and painful time for me). I kept that value before

me and I acted accordingly -- sometimes in spite of how I was

feeling, sometimes in contradiction to how I was feeling, sometimes

in alignment with my feelings, etc. My thoughts and feelings were

always present but they never stopped me from acting according to my

values. Is that what ACT is all about?

If so, isn't it in some ways a very traditional (i.e. old-fashioned)

idea about how human beings should live their lives? I'm thinking of

the old 19th century view of character -- where people did what they

believed was right or what they believed was good or heroic -- often

in spite of what they were thinking or feeling.

I don't know if this makes any sense. I'm just interested in hearing

what other people think and how they're doing with values in their

own lives.