The 6 Human Needs  

For many years Peak Performance Coach Anthony Robbins, was in search of one of the keys to human existence; the method by which we feel fulfilled and successful, in other words ‘balanced’.

Through research he noticed we generally have 6 basic human needs; Certainty, Variety, Significance, Love and Connection, Growth, and Contribution. By addressing and nurturing each can assist us in achieving balance and fulfilment in life.

In listing and describing the 6 basic human needs below, ask yourself how well you are taking care of them yourself, and even more, how much better could you?

1.   Certainty - Everyone needs to have some certainty in their lives, necessities like food, shelter and other material resources. When people cannot control their physical circumstances, they seek certainty through a state of mind such as religious faith or positive affirmations.

2.   Uncertainty/Variety - We also need a certain amount of uncertainty, or variety to provide movement and adventure in life. People have a need to change their state to exercise their body and emotions. They seek variety through different ways like change of environment, physical activity, mood change, change of people they interact with, entertainment, etc. The need for variety sometimes runs into conflict with the need for certainty, though one should co-exist with the other.

3.   Significance – We all need to feel special and important in some way. People seek significance through recognition from others or from themselves. Some people meet this need in a paradoxical way. Some people when they feel insignificant or helpless will seek to get others to recognize how significant their problems are and how helpless they are. This ironically raises their significance, just by getting people to acknowledge the enormity of their problem and their helplessness.

4.   Love/Connection - Everyone needs to feel connected with someone or something be it a person, an ideal, a sense of identity. Connection may take the form of love or engagement.

(The first 4 Human Needs are Basic or Primal. The next 2 are classified more in Spiritual needs)

5.   Growth – We all need to grow – as the Universe is ever expanding, so we should always feel growth happening in our lives to be a part of it. The universe is either growing or dying – and scientists believe it is growing. Many are not satisfied spiritually unless their capacities are expanding.

6.   Contribution - Just as we survive through the contribution of others (our parents for example), we seek to be spiritually fulfilled through contribution. It is the giving back, having an aim or ideal labelled ‘something bigger than who we are’.

When looking at what’s happened throughout your day/week/month, become aware which needs are being met, and which perhaps are not. Once we become aware we are in a stronger position to make choices that can then ensure more of our needs are met in the future.

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