Uncover Needs

Our needs are what motivate our every day actions. An examination of our needs in any given situation can be a very insightful exercise. Rather than blindly being led by the forces around us and our reactions to them we can become conscious of how our brain is directing us. It’s time to take ourselves off “auto pilot”.

Maslow

Many different hierarchies have been described, and perhaps most famously in psychology is by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”. Maslow describes five levels of human needs:

  • Physiological needs
  • Safety needs
  • Love and belonging
  • Esteem
  • Self-actualization

In modern times and looking at the needs solely of the mind, leading American coach Anthony Robbins describes the following hierarchy, the latter two being higher functioning needs.

  • Certainty
  • Variety
  • Significance
  • Love / Connection
  • Growth
  • Connection

How are these needs fulfilled in your life and work and which of these needs are not being met to the extent you would like?

Written by