Everyone has needs, but many people find it difficult to identify what authentically matters to them. Even when we can identify them, shame or fear often stops us from expressing those needs to others or taking the practical steps that would help us achieve them.

Meeting our needs is a major source of well-being, and people who can identify their needs are more likely to get them met. On today’s episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson focus on how to look inside, and figure out what you really need. They discuss different frameworks for categorizing our needs, what to do when we are confused by our desires, and how to get in touch with what you really want.

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

2:05: Common features among people who struggle to name their desires

7:05: Three basic steps to relate to wants and needs

8:00: Different frameworks for categorizing wants and needs

21:00: What helped Rick get in touch with his own wants and needs?

28:00: An experiential exercise

35:10: Why addressing your needs and wants is not just naval gazing

38:40: Forrest’s suggestions based on his own experience

45:25: What to do when what we want is probably not best for us

51:40: Creating a personal manifesto

54:30: Recap

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