Balancing Your Needs with Your Desires

April 6, 2017 ‐ Sylvaine HughsonPosted by ‐ Under: Peak Performance

If you’re like most of us your life may at times feel complex and full of demands. On any given day, you most likely have a veritable laundry list of tasks that need to be completed and it’s easy to become caught up in the idea that you need to do more. While “needs” are a very real part of life, they can’t totally replace desires and conversely, no one can thrive focused solely on doing only what they want.

Below are three tools I share with my clients to help them balance meeting their needs and fulfilling their desires.

1. Re-Frame Your Perspective

When preparing for your month, week or day ahead, how often do you say “I need to accomplish x, y and z”? Some of the items on your proverbial to-do list are bound to be things you might prefer to skip altogether despite their importance. The next time you find yourself dreading a task you know is in your best interest, try re-framing how you think and talk about this responsibility. Consider swapping the word “need” with “want” and try telling yourself “I want to exercise today” rather than “I need to exercise today.” A simple verbal shift like this creates a completely different feel and purpose – while this change can seem small, the impact on your perspective can be profound.

2. Try ‘No Thank You’

Around every corner there are opportunities to give your time, energy or money to a purpose, task or cause. Whether you find yourself adding another item to your to-do list or your bucket list, consider asking this question: “By saying ‘yes’ to this, what must I say ‘no’ to?” This simple question helps align your decisions and actions with what you truly value and can help you take a step back to consider if you’ve been presented with an option that helps meet a need or fulfill a want. If not, consider simply saying “no thank you” and feel at peace with your decision as meeting your requirements and fulfilling your desires is often a matter of quality not quantity. Your time is valuable, protect it.

3. The Power of Play

Did you know studies have shown that making room for fun, like spending time with friends and family and even playing, can increase your brain’s cognitive function? For many of us, creating space for “play” through light-hearted activities we love, might seem frivolous. However, even a little fun each day, can make us better at everyday tasks like making tough decisions, organizing budgets, and solving problems. Play just may be the perfect antidote to a packed schedule, creating the necessary balance between needs and desires for Peak Performance.

Whether you prioritize your needs or desires, the key point to remember is that you have a choice – you get to decide how you meet your needs and fulfill your wants. You can also select which to focus your efforts on and if your needs have completely overshadowed your wants, perhaps it’s time to practice your power of choice and opt for a different approach.

Are you ready to powerfully move the needle? Schedule your complimentary 20-minute Optimized Living® Discovery Session with me by clicking here. I look forward to connecting with you!

Here’s to balancing your needs with your desires!

About Sylvaine

An Executive Health & Lifestyle Coach®, Sylvaine N. Hughson, is the Founder and Director of SNH – The Art & Science of Optimized Living®. As the Principal Coach and Consultant for SNH, Sylvaine works closely with high-level professionals, performance-driven groups, and Fortune 500 companies. She helps her clients unleash the power of optimized mindset, wellness & lifestyle to fuel their peak performance and accomplish their most important goals.

She is certified as a Corporate Wellness Consultant, Corporate Wellness Provider, Holistic Health Coach, Master Transformational Coach, Raw Living Foods Health Educator, FirstLine Therapy Lifestyle Educator, Professional Life Coach, Yoga Instructor and Traditional Reiki Master.