How Reconnecting with Your Values Supports Mental Health
When people feel out of sync with their values, they often report feeling “lost” or “unmotivated,” even if life looks good on the surface. Research in psychology, particularly in therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), shows that living in alignment with your values is linked with:
Improved wellbeing and life satisfaction
Lower anxiety and depression
Greater resilience during transitions and uncertainty
A stronger sense of meaning and identity
For example, if you value creativity but haven’t picked up a paintbrush in years, retirement could be the perfect opportunity to honour that value. If contribution is important to you, perhaps volunteering or mentoring would bring new vitality to your days.
Why This Matters Now
Retirement isn’t the end of the road—it’s a new chapter. But it’s easy to carry over old patterns or drift without clear direction. Taking time to consciously explore what matters to you now helps you make intentional, fulfilling choices. It’s also a powerful way to protect your mental health, particularly as you navigate new routines, relationships, and roles.
What’s Included in the Package?
If you’re entering or adjusting to retirement and want to feel more grounded, energised, and aligned with your values, we offer a 2-session Values Discovery Package at £250. In these two one-to-one sessions, you’ll:
Clarify your core personal values in this new life stage
Explore how to bring more of those values into your daily life
Leave with a personalised “Values Map” to guide your decisions and enhance your wellbeing
This isn’t therapy; it’s a guided exploration led by one of our expert psychologists, designed to help you reconnect with what truly brings you joy and purpose.
Book Your Values Package Today
If you're looking to start your next chapter with more clarity and confidence, contact Oak Grove Psychology using the form to arrange your Values Discovery sessions. Alternatively, call us on 07359 577 510 or email us at drannanorris@oakgrovepsychology.co.uk.
Values Discovery Package
Retirement marks a profound shift in life. After decades of structure, deadlines, and purpose tied to career and family demands, retirement offers a blank canvas; but that can feel both liberating and disorienting.
Many retirees anticipate more freedom, travel, or relaxation. But surprisingly, some also experience a subtle (or not-so-subtle) decline in mood, identity confusion, or a sense of aimlessness. So, what’s the missing link? Often, it comes down to values, and what really matters to you at this stage of life.
At Oak Grove Psychology, we offer a dedicated Values Discovery Package to support you in creating a more meaningful, grounded life after work.
What Are Values, and Why Do They Matter in Retirement?
Values are the guiding principles that shape our decisions, behaviour, and sense of purpose. They’re different from goals. Goals can be ticked off; values are ongoing directions. For example, “spending quality time with family” is a value, while “booking a family holiday” is a goal that reflects that value.
In working life, values are often shaped by roles—being dependable, efficient, competent. But retirement invites a chance to re-evaluate. Which values are still central to who you are? Which ones might you have neglected and want to reconnect with? Which ones do you want to let go of?