Understanding fundamental human needs can help us resolve conflict both within ourselves, and with others. We can empathize with our past actions, seek to understand the unmet needs behind certain behaviors, and we can continue to find more fun and less costly ways of meeting our needs. We can also understand why others might do things that do not meet our needs. We can see the human-ness in everyone, and we can see the motivation behind actions. With each action, we are doing the best we can to meet our needs, given what we know and what we have access to. While I can write pages and pages on each individual need, I decieded that it might be easier to understand needs with a series of photos.
“Do not mistake the map for the territory”
“Do not mistake the finger for the moon”
Do not mistake my words and photos for the complete truth of reality. Use these photos as a sort of parable, see if you are able to meet these needs, and which needs might be missing from your day-to-day life. The photos will represent different strategies to meet needs. These are the strategies that I might use to meet my needs, but you can find the strategies that work best for you, and maybe assemble your own photo album for each need.
Subsistance
Protection
How safe would you feel here? Chances are you would prefer a roof and resources to keep you protected.
Affection
Participation
Understanding
Leisure
Creativity
Identity
Freedom
Hopefully you have a better understanding of Needs. When these needs are not met, we might have feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, tiredness, confusion and more. When our needs are met we might feel happy, exciting, content, rested, and refreshed. When your feelings overwhelm you, come to this list and see which needs are still unmet.