Human Needs
Certainties
What are things in life that we are sure of? Things that we can count on? Things that are consistent? When things stay the same, what happens?
The only certainty is that nothing is certain.
Uncertainties
The unknown is what gives us fear, and what gives us excitement. Not knowing what will happen takes risk. Risk gives us opportunities. Opportunities to fail, to grow, to thrive, to be surprised, to get hurt, to see what we are made of, to find ourselves, to find our purpose. Risks are life’s great adventures.
“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.”
Significance
We all want to feel important. We all want to be unique. Feeling significant could come in the form of money (wealth), being popular, cool tattoos or piercings. Significance could also come in the form of violence. What do all of these things have in common? They get a RESPONSE from others. If you provoke people, you get a response. And getting a response, good or bad, makes you significant in that moment.
“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. ”
“A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives. ”
Connection
Feeling love, or that someone cares about you, is something every human searches for in some capacity. We want to find people who understand us. Who can accept us for our idiosyncrasies. These connections help us not only feel validated, but allows for us to give love, acceptance, understanding, as well. And in that comes us understanding ourselves better.
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tired into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”
Growth
In life, we want a purpose. In order to find our purpose, we need to grow. How do we grow? Through taking risks. Through failing and making mistakes. Through persevering when things get hard. We have NO idea what we are capable of as human beings. It would be frightening if we knew, and it would be anticlimactic. Perseverance creates growth. Growth is the best surprise we could give ourselves. It is not about the destination, but about the journey.
“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”
Contribution
A “We” over “Me” mindset. It is great to have all the fame and glory for ourselves. But the act of giving has so much purpose and meaning. This meaningfulness helps us continue to uncover our calling in life. What do we get in return when we give?