Mindset Exercise: Needs Assessment
Time: 30-45 Minutes
Preparation: None
Purpose: This warm-up exercise, inspired by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, guides you in assessing personal needs across various life areas. It encourages self-reflection to identify what matters most and reveals what matters most.
Needs Assessment Instructions
We begin with evaluating how well your essential needs are being met, how much they matter to you, and how much effort you put into fulfilling them.
STEP 1: Rate Your Need
For each need, you will evaluate three aspects on a scale of 1 (Low) to 3 (High):
The high-level categories include:
Basic Needs (Physiological and Safety): These are essential physical and security needs, such as health, shelter, and stability.
Psychological Needs (Belonging and Esteem): Concerns emotional and social well-being, connection, respect, and self-worth.
Self-Fulfillment Needs (Purpose): This is the best version of yourself that embraces change through personal growth, creativity, and the pursuit of potential.
By rating each need on importance, satisfaction, and effort, you calculate a total score to help identify areas for improvement. This assessment highlights where your energy can be best focused to enhance balance and fulfillment in life.
Ask yourself:
How much does this matter?
How well are my needs met?
How much work do I put in?
STEP 2: Calculate Your Score
Add the three ratings (importance, quality, and engagement) for each need category, then calculate your scores.
STEP 3: Interpreting Your Score
Based on your Total Score, identify which range your score falls into:
15-25: This score suggests potential apathy toward essential needs, which can negatively impact your happiness, long-term well-being, and those around you.
25-35: This range indicates potential for balance between physiological and psychological needs. You can prioritize your needs effectively and maintain high-quality results without risking burnout.
35-45: A score in this range indicates a potential for burnout and exhaustion. When every need is a high priority, you overextend yourself, and maintaining energy and mental clarity can be difficult. Your overall health could be at risk.