Needs & Values
A Self-Discovery Exercise
“Needs matter for you; values matter to you.”
– Sara Skillen, PCC, Owner & Director of Education at Coach Approach Training Institute
Why do this exercise?
Identifying and prioritizing your needs and values is powerful work. They can shift over time, and naming the ones that are most resonant for you right now anchors you into who you are, or who you sense you are becoming.
This exercise can be foundational to the work we do together. Understanding what you need and what you value helps explain why certain environments, routines, and situations work for you and why others don't. It's the beginning of building a home and a life that actually fits.
Needs defined:
Needs are the personal priorities and conditions that sustain your functioning. Until your needs are met, life doesn't quite work. When they are met, there is a supportive logic behind how you show up at home, at work, and in your relationships. You can secure some needs yourself. Others must be present in your environment or found through collaboration.
Values defined:
Values reflect your ideals and passions. They are what you stand for. They tend to be aspirational and inspirational. They make life worth living.
Time needed:
Please allow 15 to 30 minutes to complete this exercise.
Instructions
Open the Big List of Needs and Values (button above). Let your eye wander over the list…
Notice what draws your attention, and what feels right for you.
Aim to identify up to 4 needs and up to 4 values that are the most important to you right now and complete the form below.
Are there needs or values missing from the list? Feel free to come up with your own!
We will explore them together in your next session.
“If you don’t address needs proactively, the tend to show up on their own terms.”
— Cameron Gott, PCC, Integrating ADHD Podcast