Why Assessing Your Needs Is Better Than Setting Goals

Goal-setting can be a trap if we haven’t done the ground work to assess what the genuine outcomes we wish for are.

The start of a new year is always a symbolic ritual. Out with the old and in with the new.

It’s often a time for resolutions and visualising some broader vision for the year to come.

Yet, rigid goal-setting is most often ineffective and can come from a place of “should”, rather than “want”.

This doesn’t mean that we have to scrap goals and intentions completely. But goal-setting can be a trap if we haven’t done the ground work to assess what the genuine outcomes we wish for are.

Instead, a different approach can help you tap into a deeper sense of self: seeing your needs for what they are.

We are often out of touch with our deepest needs, whether that is having more spontaneity in our life, feeling respected and listened to at work, getting more rest or receiving support from others.

So, here is a grounding exercise to get in tune with your needs:

1. What are three top needs that you have right now?
2. Who can fulfil those needs for you (e.g. yourself or other people)?
3. How have you communicated those needs (e.g. to others or even yourself)?
4. Is there…