We all acknowledge that as humans we have basic physical needs in order to survive; food, air, water clothing, and shelter. But what many of us tend to neglect are deeper needs in these busy times such as love, attention, safety, rest, play, relaxation and connection with other living beings. Often times these, NEEDS, come like small inner voices nagging us to pay attention, getting louder and louder until finally we listen. When was the last time that you knew you needed to go to bed early, and yet you chose to stay up late? or You knew you needed to start eating healthier, but ate fast food for convenience sake instead? What about those of you who know you should do things like quit smoking, but yet you put it off until after the weekend? Oftentimes, people choose to ignore these inner voices, and for some of us listening and taking action on these needs only happens after some type of suffering. I can’t even begin to count how many times I have heard of people getting sick after ignoring their needs. Even I am guilty of not always listening when I need to rest. I can still remember after the first year of having the business open I came down with the most intense flu that I think I have ever had in my life. It was after an entire year of pushing forward, working long hours and not taking action to take care of my deep inner need for rest. I kept putting it off, “after this week”, “next week I’ll plan a vacation…” I don’t know how long employees at the center saw it coming, but finally my body got sick of waiting. It hit me upside the head and knocked me flat on my back in bed for over a week. I still remember calling into the center needing to cancel appointments, feeling the total guilt for inconveniencing my clients, and one of the other therapist said, “thank god, it’s about time you are forced to rest. Stay in bed and don’t worry about a thing.” I was completely shocked at their response in the moment, but at the same time I found this richness to just allowing my body to be down and stay down for as long as it needed. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t like being sick, in fact I am normally really annoying and whiny when I have the flu, but the fact that I was forced to lay in bed and do nothing at all was exactly what I needed. Now, had I chosen to listen to my needs a few weeks before and just take a much needed vacation I am pretty sure to say that even if I would have gotten sick it would not have been nearly as intense. Recently, someone close to me was being told by doctors that they potentially had a form of cancer. In our society there isn’t much of a scarier word than cancer, so when you hear it, you tend to listen. In the few weeks we had before their biopsy I offered them an exercise to do asking themselves, “IF they had cancer, what would they change in their life.” Well, all of a sudden the answers are much more clear whether they are nutritional needs, making time for more joy in life, exercise…the list could go on and on, but normally your answer isn’t too far below the surface. Once they came up with their list, I asked them if they would be willing to make a contract with their body to change these things NOW, with or without cancer. If you knew that by changing these things that are trying to get your attention you would be healthy would you be willing to change them? If listening to your needs made the difference between living and dying wouldn’t you choose to Live? It is an interesting exercise for everyone to do. Because whether or not you are facing an illness or not, WHY WAIT to take action on your needs. Do you really want to wait to choose to Live fully? Is that one more pack of cigarettes really worth the health implications and the joy that you will potentially miss out on? or Do you want to choose to live life to the fullest taking care of your well-being like only YOU can do NOW. The rewards are priceless. So ask yourself: 1. If I knew I had a serious illness what would I change in my life? 2. Are you willing to do these things now before getting sick? Now make a written signed contract to yourself acknowledging and listing the things that you will change. Now there is no proof that just by making these changes will you 100% avoid illness, but what you will do is truly choose to LIVE fully and enjoy your life more fully. Now, that I am sure. I’d love to know some of the things that you would change, so please feel free to share. Your answers may give inspiration to others.