ShamanTalk Episode 89

The Importance of Identifying & Meeting
Your Own Needs

We all have needs. But what exactly are needs? More specifically, what are our own needs? Many have no idea! In this weeks episode we discuss needs, how to figure out what our own individual needs are, and who is responsible for meeting those needs (hint – usually you!).

What are needs?

Needs are feelings or conditions we need to feel happy, fulfilled, or at peace. Without them, we may feel frustrated, hurt, or dissatisfied. Some examples of emotional needs might include feeling appreciated, feeling accomplished, feeling safe, or feeling part of a community. 

Why Meeting Needs Matters

The reason it’s essential to satisfy our needs is that we feel emotional pain when they’re not met. You may be in pain and not know why or which needs are not being fulfilled. When our needs are met, we feel happy, grateful, safe, loved, playful, alert, and calm. When they’re not, we’re sad, fearful, angry, tired, and lonely.

We have many needs that you may not have considered. For example, although some of us are good at meeting physical needs, we may not identify emotional needs if those were ignored in childhood. 

How We Got This Way

Usually, this way of thinking starts in childhood. We rely on our parents for our emotional needs — love, comfort, support, validation, etc. And we don’t often develop emotional self-reliance skills as kids because parents (out of love for us) do their best to provide for all these needs.

And then we become adults without having learned emotional self-reliance. And so, we look for someone else to fill our emotional needs. 

Activities & Journeys

We look for happiness from others, but this is an unreliable source of joy. Other people will come and go, or they’ll be emotionally unavailable for their own personal reasons.

And here’s the thing: it’s not their job to fill our emotional needs. Instead, they are struggling to try to meet their own needs.

The compassionate way to go is to avoid looking for happiness from someone else and to commit to finding it within ourselves.

Consider these suggestions:

  • Sit by yourself, without a device or distraction, for a few minutes. Look inside. Get to know your thoughts. This can be an endless source of entertainment and learning. I often do this with a journal and write my thoughts as they appear. That can be very helpful.

  • Learn to fix your own problems. For example, if you are bored, fix it. If you are lonely or hurt, comfort yourself. If you are jealous, don’t hope that someone will reassure you … reassure yourself.

  • Take responsibility. If you find yourself blaming others, tell yourself that the other person is never the problem. Of course, you can believe the other person is the problem, but then you rely on them for the solution. If you think that they aren’t the problem, then you look inside yourself for the answer.

  • If you find yourself complaining, instead find a way to be grateful.

  • If you find yourself being needy, instead find a way to give.

  •  If you find yourself wanting someone to help you, help yourself.

2- You can also Journey with your Guides and ask to be connected to the energy of your own needs. 

This intention will support you to KNOW your needs on an energetic level and make it easier for you to give voice to those needs both to yourself, and where appropriate, to others. You can’t communicate what you don’t know! 

Use the list below to support your connection with your needs:

 Knowledge

Independence

Acceptance

Safety

Authenticity

Purpose

Family

Meditation

 

Awareness

Empowerment

Affection

Shelter

Honesty

Self-growth

Friendship

Contemplation

 

Reflection

Self-knowledge

Be understood

Medical Care

Fairness –Equality

Self-expression

Cooperation

Reverence

Joy

Movement

Values

Goals

Companionship

Inspiration

Intimacy

Pleasure

Self-respect

Beauty


Appreciation

Assertiveness

Generosity

Hope

Clarity

Boundaries

Support

Water

Confidence

Creativity

Reciprocity

Peace

 

Discernment

Freedom

Trust

Air

Meaning

Humour

Community

Order

 

  Comprehension

Solitude

Nurturing

Sex

Pride

Play

Reliability

Gratitude

 

Stimulation

Courage

Love

Health

Self-worth

Passion

Communication

Faith

 

Learning

Grieving

Food


 


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*30-day ‘no questions asked’ money back guarantee.

Unlock live healing circles, ceremonies, a growing library of Shamanic workshops & more!

 Step into the Centre’s very special Shamanic sanctuary. Inside Spiritual Momentum. you’ll find live bi-weekly gatherings, skill-building courses, and near-daily support from Rhonda and her team of trusted practitioners. 

Oh, it gets better! Get full and immediate access to ALL THE PERKS when you start a risk-free* membership today

*30-day ‘no questions asked’ money back guarantee.

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