Human lives across the planet show a distinct universality though not a uniformity of expression. The basic motivators and drivers are the same across cultures, religious denominations, economic statuses and other divisive factors. The underlying web of consciousness works through the universal mind which has a basic construct and format of expression.
Thus, no matter who you are or what you do, there is a common force that is driving you, that shapes your emotions and your basic behaviour. It determines how you live, the quality of life and ultimately your destiny.
This universal force is the human need. Irrespective of where you are in the world, what culture you are from, what colour, status, background, we are universally driven by our human needs. They are fundamental and unconscious needs that automatically drive us.
We can break it down to 6 areas of human needs.
An awareness of the nature of the mind and it’s fundamental motivations is the key to opening a million locks within us; we are able to navigate better through the myriad challenges and power games that life throws in front of us incessantly.
Powers within us get unleashed better and more effectively with a better understanding of our key drivers at any given point in our lives.
Decisive people are more successful and decision making is a factor of “need”. The universe naturally responds and assists pro-actively a state of need within a human. It is the dynamic presence of this need which distinguishes a successful person from a rank commoner or a failure.
Let us explore the world of the mind and it’s needs and co-relate it to our own life situations. A basic observance is that at any given moment in time, the mind is under the influence of two of these needs, prime-moving life at that instant. Each of these needs is a critical requirement of the human mind and is the feedline for it’s sustenance and survival.
The first of these needs is CERTAINTY.
The mind craves for a sense of security, a sense of stability. A fulfillment of this need brings a certain order, certain predictability to life which releases one momentarily from the vulnerability of drifting. It gives an illusionary sense of being in control over various aspects of our lives.
The positive aspect of this need is the sense of orderliness and discipline it brings about to our routine chores, a great advantage towards successful implementation of our functional routines and endeavours.An eg could be the need of a person to travel from Chennai to Delhi. This needs a certain degree of certainty to enable optimized travel scheduling and planning. Certainty and a sense of purpose gives direction and focus to the objective of travel and reduces unnecessary stress, conserving and releasing creative intelligences into the fundamental objective of travel. Else, a lot of energy is dissipated in administrative and travel related conflicts. Such certainty is an essential ingredient of success.
On the other hand, the need for CERTAINTY when it acquires POSITIONALITY can be a burden. A stickler for time management and punctuality more often than not spends more time ruing the loss of time that a missed appointment has caused him. There is a tendency to let the moment expand; he is unable to move on; he is stuck in the concept; the concept of CERTAINTY has ceased being a means to an end; it acquires the hue of an end in itself. Such a person is readily disturbed by any deviance from his “projected ideal” of how things should be and this often paralyzes him into inaction. He magnetizes situations that he resents and most of his time and energies are spent in indulging his resentments. Such a pattern can lead to failure.
The second need is the need for VARIETY.
It has been said that variety is the spice of life. The mind needs different toys at different moments. Irrespective of the content or the nature of the experience, the mind gets bored after a while. It seeks something different, something new. Be it surfing across television channels or across the worldwide web, be it the need for different styles of clothing or hair grooming, the mind constantly seeks change.
Contrary to popular belief, choices are not indicative of true freedom. Choices can make us go berserk, creating conflicts out of the smallest and most insignificant of events in our lives. People go mad trying to decide what clothes or footwear to wear to their next party.
While one is still within the confines of the mind, moderation is the key to sanity in addressing this need.
The third need is the need for SIGNIFICANCE.
Deep down, all of us know that we are nobody and nothing. Yet, the mind constantly strives to prove that it is somebody or something. We want to be recognized, want to be acknowledged. we constantly seek re-inforcement of our “selves”.
This need is a positive motivator in regular realms of existence, it makes a person strive for success in his endeavours.It is what drives a person to stand first in school or college , make a person to aspire to be the CEO of a company and so on.
On the other hand, it has the ability to create an Osama Bin Laden, the 25th child of his family who has gone to very desperate lengths to make his presence felt in the world.
The fourth need is the need to love, be loved and to feel a sense of connectedness.
The human mind has a need to feel needed. A sense of security is felt when we perceive the other’s need of us. Thus, an employee is thrilled when the boss finds him indispensable; the relationship between spouses thrives on this delicate balance. We are constantly striving to increase our utility or attraction quotient in the other’s life. A mature understanding of this need can lead to intelligent relationships in our functional areas. While addressing our needs, it makes us sensitively respond to the need of others. Colloquial relationships become less abusive and more accepting in such awareness.
When we see ourselves as incessant beggars for love and recognition, it paves the path for our discovery for higher realms of unconditional love.
The fifth need is the need for GROWTH.
Growth is an intrinsic need of the human mind. A mind which is not growing only decays to perish. Stagnation is death. Growth is an essential in all aspects of our lives. We cannot grow in our jobs while letting our relationships decay within the family. Every aspect of our lives should nourish and aid the growth process. While success at work is important, it is equally important for our relationship with spouse and our parents and children to grow with each passing day. We often skew ourselves in one aspect at the expense of other aspects. Such growth is not holistic, it is not nourishing and empowering. A weak tree trunk cannot bear huge fruit. Growth needs to be a conscious, incessant endeavor in whatever we do. Growth is a timeless journey; there is always scope for improvement in the domain of unlimited potentials that we all are parts of.
The sixth need is the need for CONTRIBUTION.
Growth and contribution are intrinsically connected. We grow as we contribute to the lives of those around us. We grow in self-esteem as our contributions are recognized and valued. A home-maker feels neglected if nobody appreciates her efforts in the kitchen or at home. She sees it as a thankless job and soon loses interest and motivation. It is the same at the workplace or even in voluntary aspects such as the Dharma. Each of us likes to see ourselves as significant and meaningful contributors to larger than life visions. We find anchor there and our life maps often find a sense of direction here.
We grow even as we contribute…….
While each of these needs are critical requirements of the mind, a dynamic drive emerging from 2 or 3 of the needs can create a reasonably successful life. When the addressal of these needs is impeded or crushed, it creates a failure.
A sick trunk or a branch can kill the whole tree. So can a leaf, a flower or a fruit. Each of these is critically important for the well-being of the tree.
Let us look at a practical everyday example applying the above concepts in a fundamental life situation. In evaluating what you are providing, look at if you are fulfilling any of these human needs and especially if you are able to meet at least 2 to 3 of the 6 at a high level. That is when you have a compelling story or offer that fulfils a person's strongest desire.
Look at how they market a high end car like a BMW. You are sold on just how great the engineering of the car and how its handling gives you unsurpassed confidence (CERTAINTY) in any condition on the road. It’s safety features protect you (CERTAINTY) like none other. Its various controls, gadgets and funky designs allows you to change your experience (VARIETY) whilst you are driving. The name of a BMW says something about you being an owner and driver who is discerning (SIGNIFICANCE) and accords you with some stature. You will be part of a BMW Club (CONNECTION) where you get to meet other owners and go on driving trips or specially, exclusive invited events (SIGNIFICANCE).
Another message that is put forward "By buying a BMW, you are actually doing yourself and your family a great favour by providing them the best technology and safety for their transport" (Contribution and Certainty). If you want to upgrade your skills as a driver, you can be provided a special free pass to BMW Driving School (Growth). They have showroom with high class touches like a private cafe and lounge (Significance) where staff greet you by name and cater to you one on one.
A successful strategy which delivers…a classic eg of mind management.
But nature also carries within itself the seeds of a divine conspiracy. Failure can in itself be the doorway to a greater success, if it enables an experience of the suffocation of the prison, be it of wood, iron or gold. It is an experience of this suffocation that sows the seed of genuine freedom in us. The mind is a wonderful faculty when we are able to drive it; when it is driven from the ancient realms of the unconscious; we are imprisoned, deeply entrapped in the snares of our blueprints.
De-clutching oneself from the unconscious and becoming liberated is the only solution .
De-clutching enables us to be masters of the mind, rather than the other way round.
In the words of Sri Bhagavan, “We see ourselves as spiritual beings having a human experience rather than human beings having a spiritual experience”.
- inspirations from Sri Bhagavan
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