After an acupuncture treatment, I was reminded that we have more subtle needs than just our physical and emotional.

The way my acupuncturist put it was “being mindful of your deeper needs.”

When she said it, it made sense on some level, but it wasn’t until later that I really thought about it.

The wisdom in the statement speaks to more than physical self-care, but to all levels that need care.

For example, on the surface it’s easy to think about what your body needs, or even what your relationships need, but what do you really want?

If you could wake up every day and do exactly what you want, what would it be?

What are your long-term dreams or goals?

Identifying with these ideas, goals, and desires and working toward them is nourishing on a deeper level than we usually have time to focus on.

I’m not saying that it’s a good idea to only do what you want rather than going to work or school, I’m suggesting that minding your deeper needs and spending time on them is an important choice. It becomes a daily practice, because often we get so wrapped up in work that we don’t make time.

The way the world works now in this economic paradigm, we’re sometimes forced to work jobs that we don’t enjoy or go to school to have a degree so others will hire us and judge that we’re worthy.

We end up working so hard toward these goals set by outside influences and end up leaving our own dreams by the wayside.

If we want to live fulfilling lives, we can’t allow our dreams to fall away.

We can’t allow ourselves to live in a place of fear or worry, rather than in a positive space of possibility where we are in control of our experiences.

You’ll know it’s time to slow down and relax when you’re tired all the time, randomly feeling down or are in a crappy mood, or simply unmotivated.

The end of the semester is prime time for all of these feelings. What can really help is getting up in the morning and before beginning any routine, taking a few minutes for self-reflection.

When could you make time today for some relaxation?

Try journaling, taking a walk outside or beginning a new project. Remember, we all have time, we just have to decide how to use it.