We all like recognition, don’t we? Remember a time when a boss or parent offered you praise. It felt good, didn’t it?
The desire for recognition is common, and it’s of our broader desire for significance, which is one of the 6 Human Needs motivational author and speaker Tony Robbins says drive us all.
How do you seek this kind of significance? Do you like to be noticed, or do you try to avoid it? If you’re super-driven to be successful, desire to hear you’re outstanding, or foster competitive and perfectionist actions, then significance is high on your list of human needs.
All that’s great, unless it leads you to associating with only people who pale in your shadow or choosing experiences you know you can master easily.
Connection/Love is another of Tony’s 6 Human Needs, so again, let’s ask how you go about meeting that need. If this is most important to you of all the needs, that means you’re loyal and generous, with strong social ties — but an ease at losing yourself and difficulty saying no.
As with all human needs, it helps us to try to meet them – but only if we don’t go too far in one direction or the other.
That applies to our healthy living habits and desires, as well. Think about how a desire to be a certain weight can lead to over-exertion or to eating disorders. Consider how much you have to sacrifice of your time and energy if you want to achieve something extraordinary, like long-distance running or extremely low body fat.
Maybe “setting priorities” is just another way of describing how we balance how we try to fulfill all these needs.
So here are some journal prompts to consider:
- How do you seek significance in your life, and what does it mean to you?
- Reflect on your experiences of connection with others. How do these connections fulfill your need for love and belonging?
- In what ways do you express love and affection towards yourself and others, and how does this contribute to your sense of significance and connection?
Take them out into your world and let their answers reveal themselves to you.
Intend for deeper levels of clarity and allow yourself space to be an observer to what comes up, like a person looking in and removing self-judgement.
To your health and wellbeing,
Sharon
Your No-Nonsense Holistic Women’s Wellness Coach
