Does Your Life Really Work? Check it Out.

You have lots of feelings. They play throughout your day. Some of them make you feel great while others clearly do not! You often talk about your emotions with trusted folks. Not so much, your needs. Why?

Are you as aware of your needs? Do you reflect on whether they are being met? You might want to tune into these important indicators of where you are in your life.

Most people, when beginning this exploration, name less than a handful of needs. It may be that they haven’t given much thought to these, or that they prefer to live in the “moment by moment” exploration of their feelings. Yet those very feelings arise from needs being either met or unmet. So…

Look at this far from definitive list of needs. Really look. Then think about your life. Where are these needs being fulfilled and where are there holes?

You cannot begin to move into living a fuller, richer life without reflection. While the list below isn’t exhaustive, its a great starting place.

And if you want to go deeper, as you reflect on these needs, note which needs aren’t being fulfilled. Ask yourself, what would it look, feel and be like if this need were being met? How can I begin moving in that direction? Who can support me in that movement?

Then begin...

You don’t have to be in crisis, to start a movement toward living a more yeasty, fulfilling life.
You do have to examine yours. So go for it.

CONNECTION
acceptancernaffectionrnappreciationrnbelongingrncooperationrncommunicationrnclosenessrncommunityrncompanionshiprncompassionrnconsiderationrnconsistencyrnempathyrninclusionrnintimacyrnlovernmutualityrnnurturingrnrespect/self-respect
safetyrnsecurityrnstabilityrnsupportrnto know and be known
to see and be seen
to understand and
be understood
trustrnwarmth

HONESTY
authenticityrnintegrityrnpresence

PLAY
joyrnhumor

PEACE
beautyrncommunionrneasernequalityrnharmonyrninspirationrnorder

PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
airrnfoodrnmovement/exercise
rest/sleep
sexual expression
safetyrnshelterrntouchrnwaterr
MEANING
awarenessrncelebration of life
challengernclarityrncompetencernconsciousnessrncontributionrncreativityrndiscoveryrnefficacyrneffectivenessrngrowthrnhopernlearningrnmourningrnparticipationrnpurposernself-expression
stimulationrnto matter
understanding

AUTONOMY
choicernfreedomrnindependencernspacernspontaneity