Tony Robbins 6 Basic Human Needs: #5 The Need for Contribution
Dec 12, 2021
Today, we are going to talk about the core need for Contribution
Contribution is the act of looking beyond oneself, going beyond one's own needs, and giving to others with no hoped-for or expected personal gain. It's contributing to other people, a cause, or to a movement. It's a way to leave a legacy, a mark on the world, to make a difference.
We contribute in many different ways, based on our talents, skills, abilities, interests, and desires. Contribution is the King of the 6 Human Needs because it regulates the others. If you focus on Contribution, you'll have Connection, and probably love, with others while helping them. You'll have Variety as you're doing something different from your everyday routine. Significance is fulfilled because you know you’re helping others, improving lives, making a difference. You'll have Certainty of being able to contribute. Growth occurs because anytime you contribute to others, you grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally/psychologically, and, if there's physical activity involved, you'll grow physically.
IF YOUR FIRST NEED IS FOR CONTRIBUTION
Your Beliefs
Life is incomplete without the sense that one is making a contribution to others or to a cause. I have to go beyond my own needs and give to others. I want to give back and to leave a mark on the world.
How this Belief Serves You
By focusing on something beyond myself, most of my problems and sources of pain become less significant. I get certainty because I know that there is always a way to contribute. I have variety because there are many different ways of making a contribution. I have significance because I know I am helping others. The spiritual bond that develops by helping others gives me a sense of connection. I grow and develop by helping others.
The Principles You Can Lose Sight Of
I lose sight of the fact that charity begins at home. I care for so many people or for such an important cause that I sometimes neglect taking care of my self and my loved ones.
The Consequences of Losing Sight of This Principle
A consequence is that my physical, emotional or spiritual health may suffer. I sometimes neglect my personal relationships and people can become resentful of the time and energy I put into a cause.
Positive ways to fulfill your need for Contribution:
- volunteer work
- a service-based career: teaching, police, coaching, medical
- spending time with grandchildren, nephews & nieces, other family members, neighbors, the elderly
- visiting nursing homes
- community service
- charitable donations
- writing a book
- giving to your children or other family members or friends
- adopting a child
- fostering children
Negative ways to fulfill your need for Contribution:
- contributing to the destruction of others
- gossiping
- ganging up with others on an individual (bullying)
- selling drugs
- being condescending
Why are the six basic human needs so important to understand?
It is important to understand they are not goals nor merely desires, but profound needs that underlie and motivate every choice, every belief, and every decision we make.
Each of us needs all 6 of the human needs, and we all do things (positive and Negative) to meet these needs.
- We all have the need for Certainty in our lives
- We all have the need for Uncertainty in our lives
- We all have the need for Love and Connection
- We all have the need to feel Significant in our lives.
- We all have the need for Growth in our life.
- We all have the need to have Contribution to our life.
These needs are not things that you can buy or give to yourself, but they are essential for your continued growth and development as a person. The concept of these needs was birthed by Sigmund Freud, contributed to by many psychologists over the years, and most famously pulled together by Brooklyn-born American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970). He proposed six basic human needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization, and transcendence.
