What are the basic human needs?
Are you unfulfilled, frustrated and unhappy, but you can’t work out why?
Maybe you feel that you have a good life, but you feel like you could be more…Do more… Have more?
Have you ever wondered why people from all different countries and backgrounds have the same sort of problems that you do?
Well the answer is that people all have the same basic human needs.
In fact Tony Robbins teaches the principle that we all have the same 6 basic human needs, and in this article, I want to help you gain a greater understanding of these needs, so that it will help you to live a more happy and fulfilling life.
Need #1 Certainty
The first human need is a need for certainty.
Think about how you feel when you are uncertain.
What if you think that your job could be on the line?
Are you worried?
Do you feel anxious or scared?
If you are not certain that you can put food on the table, pay your bills and take care of yourself and your family, then it causes all sorts of problems.
You need to have a certain level of certainty in your day to day life to function.
Need #2 Variety
Okay, so you have certainty, but what if you are so certain that you know what you will do each day, every day?
BOREDOM!!
That’s right, even though you need certainty in your life, you still need some variety, change, or adventure as well, or you will become bored out of your brain!
It is a funny paradox of life that you have two needs that appear contradictory, but at the same time will compliment each other.
Need #3 Significance
Our next human need is the need to feel significant or important in some way.
Everyone needs to feel respected and important, and to be considered unique and special.
Need #4 Love and connection
The need for love and connection starts from the day we are born until the day we die.
We all need some sort of love and connection with other people, or we become lonely and depressed.
These first 4 needs are the primary needs, and they can all be met in different ways that can either support us or hurt us.
For example, if your over-riding need is for significance, one way you could meet your needs is to grab a gun and join a gang.
As soon as you pick a gun up and hold it to somebodies head, you have instant significance.
You also have variety, you don’t know what will happen!
You also have the connection with the other gang members, and there is a a level of certainty you have with them.
Or on the flip side, your over-riding need could be for love and connection, and you meet your needs as a charity worker.
With these first 4 needs, you may be meeting them in ways that either serve you or hurt you.
But if you meet these last 2 needs, which are the emotional needs or the needs of the spirit, then you will start to feel more fulfilled and happy.
Need #5 Growth
If you are not growing, then you are dying.
Several years ago, I thought that I had a good life, but I was living in my comfort zone, and I wasn’t really happy but I didn’t know why.
I wasn’t growing.
In the last few years I have started on a road of personal development, started my own online business, and began on the road to financial freedom… And I have never been happier!
Too often, once we leave school and start working, we stop learning and growing.
Life gets away from us before we know it, and one day we wake up and think “CRAP!”
“Where has the last 20 years gone”?
The real juice in life comes from getting out of our comfort zone, trying new things and continuing to learn and grow.
Grow into the person you were meant to be, and don’t let life get in the way and settle for less.
Need #6 Contribution
The final human need is the need of contribution and giving to others.
The secret to living is giving.
How does it feel to give to someone that you know can’t pay you back?
If you don’t know what it feels like… then go do it!
Giving to others will make your spirit soar.
So how are you meeting your basic human needs?
Are you meeting them in a positive way or a negative way?
And are you filling your needs of the spirit by growing and contributing?
If you’re not, then maybe you should be.
This is where the juice of life is!
Start filling you basic human needs in positive ways that serve both you, and others!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below.
To your success,
John W. Newman
Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Online Business Mentor.
Helping you create TIME AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM by building a PROFITABLE Business Online!
Dream It… Believe It… Then Achieve It!
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This is really interesting. I feel like the biggest one I struggle with is certainty. I’ve been feeling quite uncertain about myself the past few days and it’s a very uncomfortable feeling.
I’m working on my own business and keep doubting myself about it, do you have any tips on how I can overcome this? Thanks so much!
I agree Joshua, being uncertain about yourself is a horrible thing.
The bad news is that doubts and fears will always come up from time to time, but the good news is that this is normal!
Expect it, and keep moving!
Keep taking action and work on your goals, and you will gradually get results and gain confidence.
A wise mentor once said to me that confidence comes from experience, so go out there and get busy!
Thanks for sharing these needs, I believe that these are some of the needs when met we feel fulfill and have a more apprication for life, life begins to take on a new meaning, we feel better about ourselves and no matter the age or the back ground or even where we live all of us has the same basic needs our color don’t even matter for we are all humans. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks Norman, yes our needs are the same no matter where we come from or what we may look like!
Thanks for your comment and insights 🙂
Hi John, this reminds me of how I started my online business way back in 2014. I think what made me took the plunge was the need to grow and to be creative (variety). I was in a situation where I had to work long hours repetitively, I have very little control over things and feeling underappreciated.
Having said that, it doesn’t mean that I’ve truly achieve my needs, but at least I realized what’s lacking in my life (many people don’t for many years) and working my way towards it.
Sounds like you are on the right path Cathy!
It can be hard at the beginning of building something worthwhile such as an online business, as you have to do the work up front before you start seeing some decent results.
Keep working away, and I am sure you will meet all your needs in a very positive way!
Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Hello John,
Thank you for writing the 6 basic human needs. In fact the hardest part is How we deposit into all the six areas of the basic needs. In other words, finding the balance for it. If a person don’t know how to balance it then they can be like a double headed sword. Like you mentioned in love & connection. Unless we have a clear direction,we tend to sway and most of the time it’s on the opposite side of the track. Glad that you explained them well so that we can make sure that we do not go off track pursuing our 6 basic human needs.
You make a very good point Rehemiee, balance definitely is the key to a happy life!
As I explained, you can meet your needs in ways that either help you or hurt you, but if your over-riding drive is in growth and contribution, then a healthy balance between your health, wealth and relationships can be better met!
Thanks for your feedback 🙂
I fulfill some of those needs by working online on my website, or when writing for other websites about politics or other news. It takes aways some boredom, especially when I see my site grow, which I guess takes care of the growth part. Writing about a bunch of topics gives me variety.
Thanks Ben, I think working on your own website and online business can meet many of your needs.
I know it does for me, that is for sure!
Keep learning and growing! 🙂
Hi John, I found this post a very interesting and quite enlightening read. I think a lot of people are facing uncertainty right now and are behaving in ways that are only focused on their short term goals. I think building a website focused on finding financial freedom means that you have long term goals and you will be in a better place to handle the uncertainty. I wish you all the best with your worthwhile project and look forward to watching your progress.
Thanks for your feedback Manny 🙂
These certainly are uncertain times, and there is definitely no certainty in a job anymore!
If you believe there is, then you are kidding yourself!
Building your own online business can provide you with freedom and certainty that you are in control of your OWN financial destiny, and pretty much all of your other needs as well!
Thanks again!