Growth Catalyst #3 - Deficit Needs
Without taking care of our basic needs we struggle to consistently perform, love, and contribute.
Deficit needs - the basic requirements of physical (food, water, sleep) and emotional (safety, connection, self esteem) wellbeing
When our deficit needs are not consistently addressed, psychological entropy increases, hindering our ability to channel energy into careers and creative pursuits, authentic love, and self-actualization. At the pinnacle of the hierarchy of deficit needs lie essentials like food, water, sleep, and safety, followed by the pursuit of meaningful connections and healthy self-esteem. To function optimally, maintain well-being, and actively contribute to the human experience, we must consistently maintain our deficit needs foundation. As much as we would all wish to spend all our time in the more glamorous growth spaces, life’s volatility will damage even the most sound foundation from time to time and we must cultivate resilience to rebuild after sickness, broken relationships, lost jobs, and other setbacks. As we rebuild, more and more energy emerges to drive us with increasing consistency toward our higher nature and goals.
Explore deficit needs in your own context by making a handwritten reflection for 15 - 30 minutes, guided by the following questions*:
In which ways do you feel safe and secure in your life right now? In what ways does your safety feel challenged?
Reflect on how you balance the appeal of glamorous growth spaces with the necessity of consistently maintaining your deficit needs foundation for optimal functioning and well-being. Explore specific instances when you aimed for higher ideals but struggled with consistent energy.
Reflect on a time when life's volatility disrupted your deficit needs foundation, such as sickness, broken relationships, or job loss. How did you cultivate the resilience to rebuild, and what did you learn from the experience?
Consider the pursuit of meaningful connections and healthy self-esteem in the hierarchy of deficit needs. How do these aspects contribute to your overall well-being, and how do you actively prioritize them in your life?
Consider the small steps you can take to better fulfill your deficit needs if they are currently threatened, or to build a more robust foundation for future challenges. What is one specific change you can commit to making in the month ahead?
*Check Growth Catalyst #1 for tips on making these reflections as effective as possible.
What We Are Up to At RC
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Have a growth inducing weekend,
Jacob