POSSIBLE VALUES CLARIFICATION EXERCISES

1. Imagine that you have died and are waiting to get into heaven. In order to get in, you are going to be judged on whether or not you accomplished everything you wanted to in life. How do you fare?
2. Write your own obituary, putting into it all of your life long accomplishments of which you are proud and why you are proud of this accomplishments.
3. Imagine that you have received a million dollars. What would you now do with your life?
4. Imagine that your mind is a videotape recorded that has recorded all the messages that you received during the first ten years of your life. Rewind to your childhood and review the images of growing up, of learning how to act and cope in the world. Focus on your parents or other people who were major influenced on you. What kind of things did they tell you about how you should think and act? Some things may not have been said, but somehow it was clear what was expected of you. Put these expectations into your own words. Which of these attitudes, beliefs, or values do you try to uphold now? Now think about which of these expectations, beliefs and values are helpful to you ion living your life today. Do any of them cause you problems or conflict? Which of these beliefs would you like to change?
5. Imagine that you are on your death bed and about to die. Lying there, you begin to reflect back upon your life, thinking about all the things that you accomplished or failed to accomplish. Write down everything that you feel good about accomplishing and everything you feel sad about not accomplishing.