Episode 99: The Six Human Needs

Dec 15

Are you ready to unpack a fascinating framework to learn what really drives your behaviors and motivations? Most of us have heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, but there is another powerful model created by Tony Robbins, known as The Six Human Needs. What you’ll learn in today’s episode of Euphoric the Podcast will give you unbelievable clarity and so many a-ha moments to help you build a more fulfilling, alcohol-free life.

Tune in as Karolina breaks down all six human needs, sharing examples of the unhealthy ways we can meet these needs and how alcohol might play a role. In turn, you’ll learn some healthier options of meeting your needs and ways to switch your focus away from maladaptive strategies. Let’s do it!

Karolina’s new book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, made bestseller status on Amazon! Sign up today to be part of her Euphoric Book Launch Inner Circle. When you preorder the book and sign up for the team, you'll get an advanced reader copy to read as early as today. You'll also get some cool bonuses and a chance for an author Q&A! Expand your network and meet other incredible alcohol-free badasses. You also get a behind the scenes look at what goes into a book launch. All that’s asked in return is a review of the book and sharing it with your friends.

Certainty and Uncertainty: two sides of the same coin

Today’s episode is a topic I’m obsessed with talking about. And if you’re a fan of psychology and understanding your deeper motivations and fears, you’re going to love this conversation.

You’ve probably heard about the hierarchy of needs and understand the basic premise of it. First, we require security and food, moving up to self-actualization. But there is also another model, slightly different, created by Tony Robbins, known as The Six Human Needs.

Of these, the first four are known as The Needs of the Personality. The first personality need is Certainty, or our sense of comfort, stability, and safety.

Certainty really governs our need for routine. When it comes to using alcohol for certainty, a person might come home and have a glass of wine after work. They may hold the belief that alcohol is a way to decompress and unwind.

Instead of unhealthy mechanisms, you can offer yourself just as much comfort and security by creating supportive routines. Cooking a delicious meal, taking a hot bath, brewing a special tea, enjoying yin yoga, or creating a morning routine can all uniquely meet and fulfill your need for certainty.

Shifting focus onto the other five human needs can help minimize your need for certainty and predictability.

Uncertainty is the second basic human need, encompassing our need for variety, adventure, excitement, and newness. The goal is to prevent boredom and monotony.

With alcohol, this might manifest in you craving a night on the town with your friends to let loose, or throwing a party and giving yourself permission to “have a good time.”

In an alcohol-free lifestyle, it is so important to incorporate experiences that let you feel wild and spontaneous. When you take alcohol out of your life, it results in supportive, life-giving, and healthy routines, but we still need uncertainty and playfulness in our day-to-day.

Have you ever wanted to learn the Tango or take a public speaking class? Maybe you’ve always wanted to travel to a new country and learn the language. One way I keep thrill and spontaneity in my life is by jumping into a cold body of water. All of these are great ways of incorporating uncertainty in a supportive way!

Let’s be honest, the options for creating excitement in our lives are endless! What’s on your list?

Finding your value and the power of connection

Significance is the third personality need and is related to our need for knowing that we matter. This is about recognition and status by other people, which can be summed up into this statement:

“If I attain ________, then I will be significant.”

We meet our need for significance through career, family, and achievements. With alcohol, significance could be your identity as a drinker or having a high tolerance. Alcohol may make you feel glamorous or sexy like a status symbol. Maybe you are well versed in wine or whiskey, so significance means being cultured.

So how do we retain significance away from alcohol? For me, it was becoming a business owner and launching my company, Euphoric. What is it in your life that brings you purpose?

In addition to significance, we also require Love and Connection, which is the fourth need of the personality. This is about belonging and acceptance which we fulfill through relationships.

Alcohol is very misleading when it comes to Love and Connection because it is usually a social activity that gives the illusion of community. In reality, alcohol causes disconnection and impairment, preventing us from being truly present.

Meeting this need, alcohol-free may mean inviting your friends out for coffee, or intentionally telling the people you care about that they add value to your life.

The first four human needs can be met in very unhealthy or healthy ways.

When you look at the Needs of the Personality, which two are most important to you? Once you know that answer, begin to look at healthy ways to attain these needs in your life.

The Needs of the Spirit, looking inward and reaching out

The remaining two human needs are known as “The Needs of the Spirit.” The first is Growth. This is our desire to expand emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and relationally.

Alcohol prevents us from experiencing growth, holding us back from our greatest potential. When you go alcohol-free, you create space for incredible transformation. The beauty of growth is that it’s a journey. The focus is on progress, not simply attaining a goal.

There are so many avenues for growing, whether it comes from investing in coaching, a new course, group programs, listening to podcasts, digging into a book, or traveling to a conference. All of these activities stimulate learning and discovery!

Different from growth, which may be described as internal, the final human need is Contribution. This is about reaching out, giving back, having an impact, and leaving a legacy.

Without contribution in your life, you’ll likely feel unfulfilled with a lack of purpose. Helping others holds so much value, especially when you give back in tandem with your talents, passions, and skills. You might find a way to give back through your job, or if you love singing, you may find joy in sharing your voice with the residents of a local nursing home.

Another gift you have to offer could be sharing the experiences and struggles you’ve overcome in your own life. Whatever the method, contribution is an incredible way of remembering that you are part of something bigger than yourself.

“Everything in our known universe is either growing or dying, nothing just stands still, nothing. And we have this paradigm in our society that we grow so much, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, when we're younger, and then it just stops. We don't really have this culture of continuing to grow yourself over time, to continue to learn more, read more, do new experiences, push yourself outside your comfort zone, all those kinds of ways that you are growing emotionally, spiritually and intellectually.” Karolina Rzadkowolska

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED

Join Karolina for her FREE live Dry January challenge, from January 3rd to the 5th. Learn how to overcome your fears and doubts of going alcohol-free. Change your thoughts around alcohol, and get the tools and plan you need to succeed and jump into a new identity!

Pre-order your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and also sign up to be part of the Euphoric Book Launch Inner Circle.

Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram

And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.