6 Core Human Needs by Anthony Robbins

According to renowned coach and speaker Anthony Robbins, success and happiness can be found by meeting certain needs that are fundamental to human beings. Through his work with over 3 million people, Anthony concludes that human beings are motivated by (or can be motivated by) the desire to fulfil six core needs. These needs are not merely wants or desires but profound needs and form the basis of every choice we make.

As we begin to understand what drives our decisions and behaviours on a daily basis, we can develop awareness in to why we do the things we do (especially some of the unhelpful strategies we use and impact us physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually).

Each day we fulfil these needs – either in a constructive or resourceful way, neural or in a destructive and unresourceful way. Once we develop greater awareness around the six core human needs and why we do what we do, we can then consider other ways to meet these needs in a more resourceful way and create inner peace and harmony with our lives.

What are the Six Core Human Needs according to Anthony Robbins then?

The six core human needs are certainty, variety, significance, love and connection, growth and contribution. The first four needs are defined as needs of the personality and the last two are identified as needs of the spirit.

Needs of the Personality

The first four of the six core needs are defined as the needs of the personality or achievement. They are –

• Certainty – the need for safety, stability, security, comfort, order, predictability, control and consistency
• Uncertainty or Variety – the need for variety, surprise, challenges, excitement, difference, chaos, adventure, change and novelty.

These first two of the six core needs – certainty and variety, work with each other (i.e. a paradox). If there is an imbalance in one need (e.g. certainty) you could experience boredom and crave adventure.

• Significance – the need to have meaning, special, pride, needed, wanted, sense of importance and worthy of love
• Love and connection – the need for communication, unified, approval and attachment – to feel connected with, intimate and loved by, other human beings.

Significance and love and connection are also paradoxes. If you spend too much time gaining significance, you may have trouble finding deep intimate relationships that thrive on love and connection.

Needs of the Spirit

The final two needs are defined as the needs of the spirit and provide the structure for fulfillment and happiness. The needs of the spirit are –

• Growth – the need for constant emotional, intellectual and spiritual development
• Contribution – the need to give beyond ourselves, give, care, protect and serve others

How are you meeting your Six Core Needs?

As indicated earlier, we meet these needs daily either a constructive or resourceful way, neural or in a destructive and unresourceful way.

For example unresourceful examples for meeting the need of significance could include – putting other people down, gossiping, relating sad stories about  yourself, being a martyr, a victim or rebelling. In comparison resourceful examples of meeting the need for significance include self-leadership, doing volunteer work, achieving a goal or mastery in your field of work/play.

Reflection –

• Do you agree with these needs?
• Can you relate to these 6 core human needs?
• How are you meeting your 6 core human needs?
• Are your drivers resourceful, neutral or unresourceful?
• Are you going to change anything with this awareness? If so, what are you going to change?
• Would you add anything to these 6 core human needs by Anthony Robbins? I would add the need for oneness or self-realisation after spirit needs which links to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. What would you add?

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