How to Become the Best Version of Yourself (in 3 Simple Steps)
“I became a better version of myself in 4 weeks — this is how I did it.”
Becoming a Better You
I want to start off this post with a personal story, because I think a lot of you might relate. A few years ago, during my time in law school, I was the person who seemed to have it all together on the outside. I was driven, getting good grades, and people probably thought I was on the right track. But inside? I was a mess. I was constantly stressed out, and even though I slept a lot, I was always tired. My days were packed with studying, and I couldn’t find the motivation to exercise. I ate whatever was convenient—processed foods, takeout, and snacks—and consumed a lot of alcohol almost every weekend. My body was run down, and my stomach was constantly upset.
Emotionally, I had no idea what I needed. I was defensive when criticized, refusing to see things from other people’s perspectives, and I’d often stay silent if something bothered me, afraid of conflict. Instead, I’d spend hours scrolling social media, online shopping, or binge-watching Netflix, using distractions to avoid facing my feelings.
Despite being surrounded by people, I often felt completely alone, like I didn’t belong. I’d be with my friends or roommates, laughing and chatting, but deep down, I felt disconnected. It wasn’t that they were doing anything wrong; I just couldn’t shake the feeling that no one really understood me.
Looking back, I also realize I wasn’t passionate about studying law—it was just a checklist I was trying to complete. I had no deeper sense of purpose. I kept chasing achievements, thinking they’d give me fulfillment, but they never did.I was out of balance, neglecting my health, and constantly feeling stressed and disconnected from myself. And because of that, I stayed stuck in a cycle of frustration, loneliness, and unfulfillment.
The Mind-Body-Soul Connection
The reason I felt so disconnected was because I wasn’t aligned with myself on any level. I was trying to push through life without really addressing the core of who I was—in body, mind and soul. You see, these three parts of ourselves are deeply connected, and when one part is out of sync, the others suffer.
It took me a while to realize that to truly step into the best version of myself, I needed to integrate all three: my physical health, my emotional well-being, and my sense of purpose.
Let’s break that down:
Body: Without meeting your physical needs, it’s almost impossible to have the energy or mental clarity to focus on the other areas of your life. At the time, I was exhausted, living on processed food and caffeine, and my body was screaming for help. Once I started to prioritize my physical health—getting enough sleep, eating nourishing food, and moving my body—it gave me the foundation to move forward.
Mind: This is about your emotional needs. I struggled here the most. I didn’t understand my emotions or have boundaries, and I numbed myself with distractions like social media. But as I learned to identify my emotional triggers, I discovered how to set boundaries, communicate my feelings, and process my emotions in a healthier way.
Soul: Then there’s your spiritual needs, your sense of purpose and meaning in life. At the time, I wasn’t connected to anything deeper than my to-do list. I had no clarity on what really mattered to me, so I was constantly chasing external validation—good grades, praise from professors—thinking that would make me happy. But real fulfillment comes from aligning with your purpose. It wasn’t until I started to ask myself tough questions like “what do I want out of life?” and “do I really want to be a lawyer?” that I began to live more purposefully. (You can read more about how I quit my legal career to pursue my passion here).
When I first started investing in personal growth and transforming my life, I was so focused on discovering my purpose that I overlooked the importance of my psychical and mental health. Not until recently did I stumble upon the mind-body-soul connection and realize how interconnected they are. To help you avoid the same mistake, I’ve laid out this 3-step roadmap I wish I’d have a few years ago. It really helped me become a better version of myself on all levels—in mind, body and soul—and I hope it can do the same for you.
Step 1. Address Your Psychical Needs (Body)
To start aligning with your best self, you need to address your physical needs. Without taking care of your body, it’s difficult to have the energy, focus, or mental clarity to tackle emotional or spiritual growth.
What are physical needs?
Your physical needs are the basic things your body requires to function well. These include:
Sleep: Getting enough rest for recovery and energy.
Nutrition: Eating whole, nourishing foods that fuel your body.
Movement: Regular exercise or physical activity.
Hydration: Drinking enough water to stay hydrated.
Rest and recovery: Giving your body time to recharge.
Signs you’re not meeting your psychical needs
When your body’s basic needs are neglected, it starts to send clear signals that something is off. Here are some common signs that your physical health may need more attention:
Constant fatigue or low energy, even after sleep.
Frequent headaches or tension in your body.
Poor sleep quality or trouble falling asleep.
Craving unhealthy foods or overeating for comfort.
Lack of exercise or movement, feeling sluggish.
Chronic pain or discomfort in muscles or joints.
Dehydration—feeling thirsty or low on energy a lot.
Getting sick often or weakened immune system.
Poor posture or feeling physically strained.
Unexplained weight changes or poor appetite regulation.
If you’re experiencing one or more of these signs, it may be time to start taking better care of your body. Keep on reading to discover how you can begin to meet your physical needs and feel more energized.
How to identify your physical needs?
So how do you figure out what your body needs? Simple. Just listen to your body. It’s constantly sending you signals about what it requires, but it’s easy to overlook these signs when life gets busy.
If you’re feeling constantly tired, experiencing frequent headaches, or just feeling generally run down, it’s a sign that your physical needs are likely being neglected. Fatigue, persistent cravings, aches, and pains are all ways your body communicates that something isn’t right. These signs could be your body’s way of telling you that it needs more rest, better nutrition, more movement, or time for recovery.
Start paying close attention to these signs—your body knows what it needs, and it’s up to you to listen and respond. If the problems are ongoing or severe, consider getting blood work done or consulting a specialist to gain deeper insights into what might be going on beneath the surface. Sometimes, underlying deficiencies or imbalances can contribute to these symptoms, and it’s important to get to the root of the issue.
How to meet your physical needs?
Once you’ve started tuning into the signals your body is sending, it’s time to take action. You need to treat your body like the temple it is. Here are a few simple tips you can implement right away that can make a huge difference in how you feel:
Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your body to rest and recover. Things like caffeine, alcohol, late meals, working late and blue light (from screens) will decrease the quality of your sleep.
Move your body daily: Whether it’s a workout, a walk, or stretching, regular movement boosts your energy and mood.
Incorporate rest and recovery: Take time to unwind and relax during the day, allowing your body to recover from stress and fatigue — things like reading, listening to a podcast, walking, journalling, meditating and yoga nidra can really help.
Stay hydrated: Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support your body’s natural processes.
Get enough protein: Make protein a priority at every meal, especially your first one of the day. Protein helps stabilize your energy levels and keeps you full longer. Lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts are excellent sources.
Avoid ultra-processed foods: Steer clear of frozen meals, chips, sugary cereals, and packaged snacks that are full of preservatives, unhealthy fats, and empty calories. Instead, choose whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and nuts. The goal is to eat foods, not ingredients.
Cut back on sugar: Reduce sugary snacks, soda, and high-sugar drinks like sweetened coffees. Opt for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, or satisfy your cravings with fresh fruit.
Choose whole grains: Swap refined grains like white bread, pasta, and rice for whole grains such as brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread.
Eat organic when possible: Organic foods are free of harmful pesticides and chemicals. I know it’s a lot more expensive, so if going fully organic isn’t within your budget, focus on prioritizing produce that’s ready to eat (like strawberries, spinach, tomatoes, apples, and grapes) — as these are more likely to absorb the pesticides.
Choose healthier snacks: If you want to indulge, swap heavily processed snacks for better alternatives. For example, choose dark chocolate or dates over a sugar-packed caramel-covered Mars bar. Bonus points: pair sweet treats with fiber or protein, like nuts to minimize blood sugar spikes.
Limit alcohol: Alcohol can damage your gut health, disrupting your digestion and the balance of gut bacteria. It also affects hormones like serotonin and dopamine, leading to mood swings, hanxiety, and poor sleep. If you’re curious about alcohol’s impact on your body, I highly recommend trying an alcohol-free month—you’ll likely notice a significant difference. If that’s not for you, you can still reduce alcohol’s harmful effects by drinking in moderation, staying hydrated, and stopping a few hours before bed. Be mindful of your drink choices as well: a vodka with sparkling water and a slice of lime is much easier on your system than a sugary cocktail or sweet wine. Bonus tip: take electrolytes before bed to help replenish lost minerals and reduce the chances of feeling sluggish the next day.
Minimize caffeine intake: Too much caffeine can increase anxiety, disrupt sleep, and cause energy crashes. To avoid these effects, it’s best to stop drinking caffeine after 1pm—yes, that includes those espresso martinis and vodka Red Bulls during the weekend!
Exposure to sunlight: Regular sunlight exposure is essential for maintaining your body’s natural rhythms, boosting mood, and producing vitamin D. Aim for at least 10-30 minutes of sunlight a day, especially in the morning. When possible, avoid wearing sunglasses so the light can directly reach your eyes, as this helps regulate your circadian rhythm.
Again, listen to your body: pay attention to how your body reacts to certain foods and drinks. It’s how your body is communicating its (psychical) needs to you. If you experience discomfort, bloating, or pain after eating or drinking something (i.e. gluten, lactose), don’t ignore it and reach for an aspirin — this is your body’s way of telling you it needs something different.
Step 2: Address Your Emotional Needs (Mind)
Just like your body needs food and rest, your emotions need nourishment too. When your emotional needs are met, you feel grounded, connected, and understood, allowing you to navigate life’s ups and downs with more resilience.
What are emotional needs?
Emotional needs are the feelings and connections you require to feel emotionally balanced and understood. These needs are different for everyone but may include:
• Connection: Feeling close and understood by others.
• Validation: Knowing your feelings are acknowledged and respected.
• Security: Feeling emotionally and physically safe.
When your emotional needs are unmet, you may feel anxious, angry, or disconnected, and this can lead to unhealthy behaviors or emotional burnout.
Signs you’re not meeting your emotional needs
Feeling irritable or easily frustrated by small things.
Frequent mood swings or emotional instability.
Loneliness even when you’re with people.
Craving validation or approval from others constantly.
Feeling anxious or on edge without a clear reason.
Difficulty expressing emotions or bottling them up.
Feeling unappreciated or unseen in relationships.
Avoiding conflict but feeling resentful or upset.
Lack of joy or enthusiasm in activities you used to enjoy.
Emotional exhaustion or feeling drained by interactions.
How to identify your emotional needs?
One of the best ways to discover your emotional needs is to pay attention to your triggers—the things that upset, irritate, or overwhelm you. When something triggers a strong emotional reaction, it’s often a sign that an underlying emotional need is going unmet.
Interestingly, these emotional responses often (if not always) stem from unmet needs from childhood, meaning the things that trigger you as an adult are because of emotional needs that were unmet when you were a child. Recurring feelings like frustration, loneliness, or anxiety can be important clues pointing to areas in your emotional life that need attention.
Exercise: Identifying your emotional needs
Here’s a simple exercise to help you pinpoint your emotional needs whenever you feel triggered. It will help you explore the source of your emotions and figure out how to address them:
Trigger: What’s triggering you right now? Write down the situation or event that caused your emotional reaction.
What are you feeling? Name the emotion(s). Are you feeling angry, sad, anxious, hurt, etc.? Be specific.
Where do you think this is coming from? Reflect on the deeper root of your feelings. Is this reaction related to something from your past? Try to think back to moments from your childhood you felt the same way.
Which underlying emotional need is not met? Identify the unmet need behind the trigger, i.e. a need for respect, validation, consideration, or security.
Example 1: Need for Consideration
Trigger: My partner made plans for the weekend without consulting me, assuming I would be available.
I’m feeling: hurt and frustrated because it seems like my partner didn’t consider how this might affect me, because now I have to cancel my plans and this isn’t the first time they’ve done this.
I think this is coming from: times in my childhood when my needs or opinions weren’t considered by my parents, making me feel overlooked or unimportant.
My underlying emotional need that is not met: My need for consideration and feeling included in decisions.
Example 2: Need for Validation
Trigger: I worked hard on a project at work, but my boss didn’t acknowledge my efforts during a team meeting.
I’m feeling: I feel disappointed, unappreciated, and a bit resentful because my contributions were overlooked.
I think this is coming from: I think this might be related to moments in my childhood when my achievements or efforts weren’t acknowledged, leaving me craving validation.
My underlying emotional need that is not met: My need for validation and acknowledgment of my hard work.
The more you do this, the clearer you’ll become about your emotional needs. Over time, you’ll notice that almost every trigger can be traced back to a handful of core emotional needs that are either being met or neglected.
Side note: Since you’re actively working on your emotional needs, you’ll likely find yourself unconsciously searching for triggers—almost like you’re hot-wired to spot them. Be mindful not to lose yourself in this process, as it can become incredibly isolating. For example, when I was doing the trigger work myself, I found that I was constantly waiting to ‘bust’ my boyfriend into activating a trigger, even when it really wasn’t a big deal. Once you’ve figured out your core needs, shift your focus away from unmet needs and start concentrating on what you can do to have them met (see below).
How to meet your emotional needs?
Okay, so now that you know how to uncover your emotional needs, how can you make sure they’re fulfilled? Here are a few practical ways you can start taking action to nurture your emotional well-being:
Take responsibility for your needs: Understand that while others can help meet your emotional needs, you are primarily responsible for meeting them. This means engaging in self-care, self-compassion, and doing things that fulfill you emotionally, whether it’s through hobbies, creativity, or alone time.
Practice emotional self-regulation: When you feel triggered, pause and reflect before reacting. Ask yourself how you can address the underlying need rather than getting caught up in the emotional wave.
Communicate your needs: Once you identify them, share your emotional needs with others in a healthy way.
Set boundaries: If you feel like your emotional needs are not being respected, it’s crucial to set clear boundaries. Communicate openly with people in your life about what you need—whether that’s more space, more understanding, or more support.
Surround yourself with people who respect and nurture your needs. Consider whether people who do not respect your boundaries even after you’ve communicated them clearly, are people you want in your life.
Exercise: Meeting your emotional needs
Whenever you feel triggered because someone isn’t meeting one of your needs, ask yourself the following questions:
What can you do right now to make yourself feel better? Think about healthy ways to soothe or address the unmet need. Do you need to set a boundary, do a quick breathing exercise, express yourself, or maybe journal about it?
What can you do in the future to avoid getting triggered? Reflect on what actions you can take moving forward to prevent the trigger. Can you communicate your needs better, set clearer boundaries, or take steps to protect your emotional well-being?
Example 1: Need for Consideration (see above)
Trigger: My partner made plans for the weekend without consulting me, assuming I would be available.
My underlying emotional need: My need for consideration and feeling included in decisions.
What I can do right now to make myself feel better:
Emotional self-regulation: before telling my partner how I feel, I can take a moment for myself, gathering my thoughts and letting the emotions leave my body.
Taking responsibility: even though I would have preferred it if my partner would have checked with me if I was available, it’s not entirely his fault our schedules got mixed up, because I didn’t share my plans with him either. I could have told him about my plans and asked him to take them into account before making plans. That way I would have expressed my need beforehand.
What I can do in the future to avoid getting triggered:
Communicating need: I can explain that, in not consulting me, I feel hurt because I don’t feel considered. I can explain that this is especially hurtful because my parents used to do the same thing, which is why this is so important to me.
Setting boundaries: I can clearly communicate in future conversations that I need both of us to discuss plans before they’re finalized, ensuring I feel considered.
Example 2: Need for Validation (see above)
Trigger: I worked hard on a project at work, but my boss didn’t acknowledge my efforts during a team meeting.
My underlying emotional need: My need for validation and acknowledgment of my hard work.
What I can do right now to make myself feel better:
Emotional self-regulation: Before reacting to the situation, I can take a few minutes to write about it to calm my mind. I can try to reframe the situation in my mind. Instead of assuming my boss overlooked me intentionally, I can remind myself that people get busy, and it may not have been personal. Or, if I’m on the verge of tears, I can do a quick grounding exercise by focusing on my surroundings—what I can see, hear, or feel. This helps me stay present and reduce the emotional charge.
Taking responsibility: While I wish my boss had acknowledged my work, I realize I could have taken the opportunity to highlight my own contributions during the meeting. I could have been proactive in showcasing my work instead of waiting for recognition. Next time, I can take ownership of my achievements and ensure they are visible.
What I can do in the future to avoid getting triggered:
Communicating need: I can have a private conversation with my boss, explaining that recognition of my efforts motivates me and helps me feel valued (if appropriate). I can mention that while I understand they are busy, even a small acknowledgment of my work would go a long way.
Setting boundaries: Moving forward, I can set the expectation with myself to regularly practice self-validation. Instead of relying on others for acknowledgment, I can create moments to reflect on my own accomplishments, ensuring I don’t place all my worth in external validation.
Meeting your emotional needs is an ongoing process—it’s something you’ll need to work on consistently, and it’s so easy to lose sight of it after a while. As life gets busy, it’s important to stay mindful of these needs, continue practicing emotional self-regulation, and create healthy ways to ensure they’re being met.
The more you practice these skills, the easier it will become—not just for you, but also for the people around you. At first, it may feel uncomfortable because you’re breaking habits that have been ingrained for years, but over time, a new habit will form, and you’ll find yourself navigating emotional needs with more ease and confidence.
Step 3. Address Your Spiritual Needs (Soul)
After addressing your physical and emotional needs, it’s time to dive into something deeper: your spiritual needs. While this might sound abstract, spiritual needs are just as important as the other two steps for creating a balanced and fulfilling life. Let’s explore how to identify and meet your spiritual needs — even if you don’t consider yourself particularly spiritual.
What are spiritual needs?
Your spiritual needs are the deeper desires that give your life meaning and a sense of connection beyond just the physical or emotional. These needs aren’t necessarily tied to religion, but rather to the things that help you feel aligned, centered, and connected to something bigger than yourself. Spiritual needs are what help you find peace in chaos, purpose in routine, and fulfillment in the everyday. When these needs are met, you feel a sense of wholeness and direction.
People have different interpretations of spirituality, so spiritual needs can vary depending on personal beliefs, values, and life experiences. Here are some core spiritual needs:
A sense of purpose: The need to feel like your life has meaning and direction. When you have a sense of purpose, your actions and decisions feel intentional and aligned, giving you motivation and a clear sense of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Growth and Self-Discovery: The need to continuously evolve, learn, and understand yourself on a deeper level. This could be through reflection, meditation, or personal development.
Authenticity: The need to live in alignment with your true self, expressing your values, beliefs, and desires without compromise.
Inner peace: The need to feel calm, balanced, and grounded, no matter what’s happening externally. When you cultivate inner peace, you’re able to find stability and clarity within yourself, allowing you to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and a sense of alignment.
Connection with Others: Building deep, meaningful relationships that go beyond surface-level interactions, grounded in empathy, compassion, and shared understanding.
Connection to something greater: The desire to feel part of something beyond yourself, whether through nature, a community, a cause, or a spiritual practice. This is about recognizing that your life is interconnected with the world around you, providing a sense of belonging and contribution to something larger.
Signs you’re not meeting your spiritual needs
When your spiritual needs go unmet, you may feel a sense of emptiness or disconnection, even if other areas of your life seem fine. Spiritual needs are often overlooked, but they play a key role in your overall well-being. Here are some common signs that your spiritual needs may be neglected:
Feeling unfulfilled despite having success in life.
Constant restlessness or dissatisfaction, even when life seems fine.
Feeling disconnected from yourself or the world around you.
Lack of direction or purpose in life.
Burnout or emotional exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix.
Craving deeper connections in your relationships.
Feeling lonely even when surrounded by others.
Numbing yourself with distractions like social media or TV.
Feeling ungrounded or out of balance in your daily life.
Asking existential questions like, “Is this all there is?”
Ignoring gut feelings or intuition about what you truly want.
Stagnation or feeling like you’re not growing or evolving.
Lack of joy or passion in things that used to excite you.
If you recognize any of these signs, it’s a signal that you may need to reconnect with what truly matters to you. Meeting your spiritual needs can help you feel more aligned, purposeful, and at peace with yourself and the world around you.
How to identify your spiritual needs?
Identifying your spiritual needs often starts with listening to your intuition—those gut feelings or inner nudges that tell you something’s off, even when everything else seems fine on the surface. If you feel restless, unfulfilled, or like something’s missing in your life, it’s a strong signal that your spiritual needs might be unmet.
Start by reflecting on moments in your life when you felt most connected, alive, or deeply at peace. These moments could be times when you were in nature, creating something meaningful, or connecting deeply with others. Ask yourself what was happening during those times—were you working toward a greater purpose, experiencing personal growth, or simply being present in the moment? These experiences provide valuable clues about what fulfills you spiritually.
It can also help to think about times when you felt empty or disconnected, even when everything seemed fine on the outside. These feelings can indicate a lack of alignment with your deeper desires or values. By tuning into your emotions and reflecting on these moments, you can begin to identify what your soul truly craves—whether it’s a sense of purpose, inner peace, or connection with something greater.
Exercise: Identifying your unmet spiritual needs
Whenever something feels off, listen to your intuition and register what is making you feel that way.
Disconnection: What’s making you feel disconnected or unfulfilled right now? Write down the situation or event where you felt a sense of emptiness or lack of meaning (i.e. a meeting at work).
What are you feeling?: Identify your feelings. Are you feeling restless, unfulfilled, or disconnected? Are you lacking purpose or inner peace? Be specific about what you’re experiencing.
Where do you think this is coming from?: Reflect on the deeper root of these feelings. Is it related to something in your current life—work, relationships, or a lack of meaningful activity? Or does it come from a long-standing feeling of being disconnected from your deeper values or purpose?
Which underlying spiritual need is not met?: Identify the unmet spiritual need behind these feelings. Is it a need for purpose, connection, growth, etc.?
Example 1: Need for Purpose
Disconnection: During my internship at a law firm, I felt stressed, unfulfilled, and distracted. While I was doing productive work, it lacked meaning for me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
What am I feeling?: I’m feeling stressed, unfulfilled, and disconnected from the work I’m doing. I’m lacking purpose, and the repetitive tasks make me feel like I’m not using my creativity or engaging in something meaningful.
Where do I think this is coming from?: This likely comes from the fact that I value creativity and purposeful work. The law firm environment didn’t align with these values. It feels like I’m just completing tasks without any deeper meaning or personal fulfillment. This disconnect between what I enjoy and what I’m doing every day is what’s triggering these feelings.
Which underlying spiritual need is not met?: My need for purpose. I crave work that aligns with a greater sense of meaning, where I can express myself creatively and feel like I’m contributing to something beyond just a checklist of tasks.
Exercise: Identifying your met spiritual needs
Now, compile a list of activities and moments that do make you feel fulfilled, and intentionally try to incorporate more of those into your life. Again, listen to your intuition and register what is making you feel this way:
Connection: What’s making you feel connected or fulfilled right now? Write down the situation or event (e.g., spending time with loved ones, working on a creative project, volunteering, etc.).
What are you feeling?: Identify your feelings. Are you feeling excited, peaceful, inspired, or energized?
Where do you think this is coming from?: Reflect on the deeper root of these feelings. What about this activity or event is resonating with you on a spiritual level?
Which underlying spiritual need is being met?: Identify the spiritual need behind these feelings. Is it a need for purpose, connection, creativity, growth, or inner peace?
Example 2: Need for Growth
Connection: What’s making me feel connected or fulfilled right now? I’m reading a personal development book, and it’s inspiring me to reflect on myself and learn new strategies for improving my life. It’s giving me fresh perspectives and a real sense of progress.
What am I feeling? I’m feeling energized, inspired, and motivated to take action. There’s this excitement as I soak up new knowledge and see how it can make an impact on my life.
Where do I think this is coming from? These feelings are coming from my deep need for growth and self-improvement. I have this desire to continuously learn and push myself, and this book is really challenging me to think differently. That resonates with my need to learn and stretch my boundaries.
Which underlying spiritual need is being met? The spiritual need being met is growth—that need to evolve, learn, and discover more about who I am and who I can become. This makes me feel like I’m becoming a better version of myself, gaining clarity on how I want to shape my future.
How to meet your spiritual needs?
Now that you’ve figured out what your spiritual needs are, the next step is how to actually bring them into your daily life. It’s about taking what you’ve learned and applying it in a practical way, so you can feel more connected, purposeful, and fulfilled.
Exercise: Meeting your spiritual needs
Reflect on moments in your life when you’ve felt really connected, purposeful, or alive. What were you doing in those moments, and how can you bring more of that into your life?
When was the last time you did feel [spiritual need]? What were you doing?
How can you incorporate more of [that need] into your life?
Example 1: (Unmet) Need for Purpose
When did you feel a strong sense of purpose? What were you doing? I remember feeling deeply fulfilled when I was volunteering at a local animal shelter. Taking care of animals, knowing I was making a real difference, gave me a strong sense of purpose. It felt like I was contributing to something bigger than myself, and that gave me this sense of connection and meaning.
How can you incorporate more of that into your life? I could look for a career that’s more purpose-driven and helps me contribute to something bigger, or if that’s not an option, I could make more time to volunteer regularly. I can also find other causes I care about and see how I can contribute in small but meaningful ways, like donating my time or skills.
Example 2: (Met) Need for Growth
When did you feel a strong sense of purpose? What were you doing? Reading a book about personal development.
How can you incorporate more growth into your life? I could make reading personal development books or listening to growth-oriented podcasts a regular part of my routine. I can challenge myself by taking courses or attending workshops that push me out of my comfort zone. And, to keep myself on track, I could set personal growth goals—like learning a new skill, tackling a project that stretches me, or even taking on something I’ve been afraid to try.
By intentionally focusing on these moments and making them a regular part of your life, you won’t just meet your spiritual needs—you’ll transform how you feel day-to-day. The more you practice this, the more you’ll notice that fulfillment becomes a constant, not something you’re always chasing. Over time, you’ll feel more grounded, energized, and clear about what truly matters to you.
Conclusion
The Hierarchy of Needs
Think of your needs as a pyramid, with each level building on the one before it. At the base of the pyramid are your physical needs—things like sleep, nutrition, movement, and rest. Without addressing these first, it’s almost impossible to have the energy or mental clarity to tackle the higher levels. When your body is taken care of, you can focus on the next level: your emotional needs.
Once your physical health is in check, it’s time to look at your emotional well-being. Meeting your emotional needs is crucial for feeling secure, connected, and balanced. Without emotional stability, it’s hard to move forward with the deeper, more introspective work that comes with addressing your spiritual needs. You can’t fully connect with your purpose or meaning in life if you’re still weighed down by unresolved emotions or unmet emotional needs.
Finally, at the top of the pyramid are your spiritual needs—the needs that give your life meaning, purpose, and a sense of connection to something greater. But you can’t get to this level if the foundation isn’t strong. Only when you have the energy and emotional stability can you dive into the deeper questions about your purpose, your passions, and your sense of fulfillment.
By addressing your needs in this order, you create a solid foundation that supports long-term personal growth, fulfillment, and a balanced life. It’s all about building from the ground up. Once you’ve created that balance, you can truly dive into the journey of becoming the best version of yourself.
A Lifelong Journey of Growth
here will be times when you focus intensely on growth and self-improvement, and other times when you slow down or need to recharge, and that’s completely okay. The key is to keep moving forward, even if it’s at your own pace. The important thing is that you don’t stagnate. As long as you keep learning, evolving, and aligning your body, mind, and soul, you’ll stay on the path toward becoming the best version of yourself.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into your personal growth journey, be sure to check out the Girls Gone Growth program. It’s a space for women who want to invest in their growth, discover their purpose, and live a more aligned and fulfilling life.
Together, we’ll work on balancing the mind, body, and soul and support each other in becoming the best versions of ourselves.
Click here to learn more about the membership!
