I thought that I would take the time to write a short blog about the six human needs.

These needs are common to all human beings who enjoy the human experience.   While these needs relate to every person, they may be sequenced and ordered differently according to the values and beliefs of each individual.

The first human need is the need for certainty.  This need grows out of the desire to know what we know.  For example we know that the sun will rise in the morning.  We know that Breakfast is the first meal of the day.  We know where we live, and who we live with.

This knowledge keeps us safe and secure.  This knowledge stabilises our world and enables us to take comfort and have trust in the predictable aspects of our lives.

The second human need is the need for uncertainty.  This need is often called variety.  Too much certainty and predictability make for a condition in which there is no surprises in life.  This would make for a boring and unfulfilling life.  Without an occasional surprise, and without the challenges of uncertainty in life, the forging of our character would be null and void.  Without variety we can easily fall into boredom.  Boredom can lead to depression and this could lead to a sad and unfulfilling end.  One example of this is gleaned from considering factory workers in china.  Some Chinese buildings have set up suicide nets around the base of the building, to prevent death of workers who throw themselves out of the window.  These suicide attempts are the result of lack of variety.  One person may have a job that requires them to put a button onto a phone.  This task is repeated several thousand times a day.  This action is then repeated for days, weeks, months and years.  Eventually without variety a person can snap and take drastic measures such as jumping from a high building.

The third human need is the need for significance.  We all want to be significant to some degree.  We want to know that we matter to someone.  We want to know that we will be remembered for something.  This need can drive people to unprecedented levels of success in their chosen field of accomplishment.  Those who fail to gain significance in a positive way may resort to antisocial behaviour.  It has been reported that many notorious criminals wanted their name to be remembered in the history books for their crimes.  This desire for significance can be a powerful motivating force in life.

The fourth human need is love and connection.  We all want love in our lives.  To feel a sense of belonging and safety.  The need for love causes some to jump enthusiastically into a relationship at the first sign of reciprocation.  Love motivates individuals to take risks, keep commitments that require sacrifice and give of the best parts of ourselves to others.  A person filled with love is not content just to support their own family, but extends to the whole human family.  When love cannot be found, some settle for connection.  They may seek love, and in being unable to find or secure love settle for connection.  At the other end of the scale is loneliness.  This is generally the state of someone feeling unloved and unlovable.

The fifth human need is Growth.  This is an unquenchable desire to learn and expand.  This need keeps us learning, improving and developing throughout our lives.  The hunger for knowledge and desire to expand our capacity gives us the opportunity continually feed this need and thereby help us to improve our situation and circumstances.  Growth is a necessary condition of the soul, and without it, one may feel unfulfilled.  Some have been badly hurt and shut themselves off from growth and this has a negative and even detrimental effect on life and the future.

The Sixth human need is contribution.  This need is the desire to make a difference.  This need compels people to serve and lift other.  This need compels us to rise above selfish tendencies.  To hold the needs and interests of those in need parallel to, or even above our own.  This is a need to gain fulfilment through charity, service and kindness to others.  The worldwide humanitarian efforts, charity organisations and local churches all score high on their desire to provide both temporal and spiritual aid to those who are struggling.  Some reject this need and cheat, steal and oppress.  They reject the light within and instead walk a different path.

Recognising the order of these needs in ourselves gives us a clues on how to keep ourselves motivated and on track when it comes to any goal or commitment.  It can also teach us how to gain control of our focus, and directionalise that focus as it relates to our dominant needs.  It may also give us a hint as to why certain projects are left undone, or actions are not taken.  These things may be way down the list for us, and therefore of less priority to us.  Understanding the order and sequence of our needs can help us choose a career path, interests and hobbies that support our dominant needs.  This really helps us to live a happy and fulfilling life.

These needs are taught by Anthony Robbins.  He has taught them for a very long time and those who have learned about recognising these needs in others have reported that having an understanding of the needs, helps one to understand why others behave the way they do.  This understand can help one to build a stronger level of rapport and to expand ones influence.  Discovering the dominant needs of another, will enable us to structure the interaction in such a way that the benefits to the person can be highlighted, which means that we can be more effective and successful.