In a previous post, I tried to make the case that well-being is the process of consistently meeting our diverse and conflicting needs in balanced and adaptive ways. In this post, I’ll show you how to apply this information to create a rich and fulfilling life. I’ll share with you some of the ways in which I personally meet each need in my own life and offer some questions to help you assess whether or not you are honoring each need in yours…
The Dark Side of Needs
Here's What We Need For Well-Being
We have two fundamental yet conflicting sets of needs: those that support stability and those that support growth.
Many modern people assume change and growth are unquestionably good things. Marketers and politicians use this assumption to their advantage:
“This will change your life!”
“I can change the world!”
“Grow your business to 7 figures!”
But this perspective only tells one side of the story. Growth isn’t always a good thing and not all change is progress…
Why do we get into funks? (A Hypothesis of Well-Being)
Given the kind of year we had in 2020, I’ve been thinking a lot about dysfunction.
What causes people to become imbalanced and chaotic? How can we restore balance and cultivate well-being, both on the individual and collective levels?
Of course, there are many possible answers to these questions. However, I think they share a common theme:
Dysfunction happens when we fail to honor the full range of values necessary for human flourishing.
Conversely, well-being emerges when we cultivate and pursue this full range of values in balanced and adaptive ways.
Let me explain…