There are six basic needs that every person tries to fulfill. Your life largely depends on which needs you prioritize and how you try to satisfy them. When you recognize your needs and how you go about them, you gain a deeper understanding of your personality and self. This article explains the why and how. 

The six needs we all have

We all have a variety of needs. Yet, some are more prevalent than others. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, six needs seem to preoccupy us almost all the time. The first four have to do with our personality. 

First, we need certainty in our lives. It is about the ability to avoid pain and attract pleasure. There are various ways to meet this need, but everyone meets it one way or the other. Just like we want certainty in our lives, we also crave variety. This need is the main reason why travel and holidays are so important to many. 

Then, there is the need for significance. Everyone seeks to feel important and unique. And like before, there are many ways you can satisfy this need. Fourth on this list is the need for connection and love. We all want to be loved and connect with others. 

Although the first four needs are about survival, the last two have to do with fulfillment. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we all crave to grow. It is the fifth human need and what this blog is all about. Finally, we also need to contribute to the world. After all, all of us know that life is not just about us.

Asking the right questions 

The motto of this blog is that you can use everything for your growth. The above framework with the six needs may be correct or may only be partially true. For example, there may be some needs that do not fit in the model. Regardless of the truth, you can always choose to benefit from the framework and use it to understand more about yourself. 

If you want to become more self-aware and understand how you see the world, this is a handy opportunity for practice. Make some time and sit down to answer three basic questions, one after the other. The first question is about prioritizing your needs. Ask yourself what needs from the list above you value the most.

Then, choose the top three or four needs, and ask how you meet each one. What are the activities that you perform to meet your primary needs? Do people around you help you meet some?  Once you have everything written down, the last question you ask is whether every activity you do is working or not. Pay attention and understand if the way you try to meet your need is successful or not.

See where you stand

If you find that one activity or person helps you satisfy three or more needs, then your life depends a lot on that one activity or person. If you feel you have full control over the activity, then you are in good hands – your hands. On the other hand, If you see that the person or activity controls you, then your happiness, success, and life, in general, are less within your control. 

Regardless of what you find out, you now know more about yourself. And this is the reason you sat down and performed this exercise in the first place. After all, the first step to growth is understanding where you stand right now.

Takeaway

• Just like we want certainty in our lives, we also crave variety. 
• Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we all crave to grow. It is the fifth human need and what this blog is all about.
• There are three questions you can ask to understand more about yourself: A) What needs do you value the most. B) What are the activities that you perform to meet your primary needs? C) What is working and not working for you?