Needs are the dimensions of life that we fulfill to sustain our life and keep it moving forward in good orderly direction from the past to the present to the future.  When we take the actions to fill each of our life needs in good orderly direction as we progress through life, we can enjoy life.  

If we are not happy with our lives, the first action we can take is to examine how we are progressing toward meeting each of our life needs.  We can look at the areas of our life where we are dissatisfied.  If there are areas that need attention, we can identify action steps we can take to meet those unfulfilled needs. 

Addiction manifests when there is imbalance in how we fill our needs.  Addiction sustains when we repeatedly expect others to fill our needs for us and others repeatedly fill our needs for us.  

Healing occurs when we own the agency, autonomy, authority, right of decision, responsibility, and accountability for fulfillment of our own needs.

The “My Life Needs” worksheet allows us to think about what is most important to us.  Then we can determine how much money is needed to help us meet each need that is important to us.

My Life Needs

Am I satisfied with my life as it is today?   

Dissatisfied         -4        -3        -2       -1         0       1       2        3       4       Satisfied

Dissatisfied  -4 =Severe  -3 =Moderate  -2 = Mild -1  = Low  0 = Neither  1 = Low  2 =  Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Very Satisfied

If you do not feel satisfied, identify what you need to make you feel satisfied? What do you need more of? What do you need less of?  What actions do you need to take so you can be satisfied with your life?

Listed below are the departments of life.  Think about each of the departments of your life. Are there areas where you need to take positive actions so you can be satisfied with your life? List the actions you can take. Which goals require money.  How much money do you need to fund these goals?

Physical Self

Diet

Activity/Exercise

Personal hygiene

Sleep

Medication

Non-Physical Self

Spiritual

Mental

Emotional

Choices

Actions

Consequences

Non-Physical Relationships (Other People, Places, and Things)

People

   Family

   Friends

   Co-workers

   Neighbors

Places

   Home

   School

   Work

   Social

   Religion

   Recreation/leisure

   Legal

Things

   Alcohol/Drugs/Gambling

   Time

   Money

   Physical Objects

      Car/Transportation

      Equipment for work