We all thirst for security in our lives — the ground we walk on, the air we breathe, the food we eat. If even for just a breath we find out that there’s an air of uncertainty about any of those absolutes, we end up finding ourselves struggling, stressing and worrying about what tomorrow will bring. And to a certain extent, no one can fault anyone for that! It is, in fact, one of the six core needs of every human being. So don’t look down at yourself for wanting things in your life a certain way. It’s simply how you’re made up in terms of what your personality needs. For safety. Security. Well-being. Health. And so much more.
However….
Certainty is certainly not the only human need
And there is, indeed, a danger to clawing for all that certainty in your life in a world that’s so filled with the complete opposite. People change. Life will throw changes at you. Being ‘comfortable’ in your daily routines, because they’re “safe” to you may limit you as the world evolves with new challenges and opportunities. Don’t miss out on them. It does, however, come up with a balance that there are some things in your life that absolutely have to stay certain, no ifs, ands or buts.
What are those absolutes? That’s up to you. A little soul-searching may help you discover what’s essential for you to thrive on this basic core human need. But also recognize that expecting your life to stay the same from birth to death is relatively unrealistic. You’re guaranteed to experience a lot of change. But what you can do is coordinate your
environment to ensure things don’t change up too much.
How do you know if certainty is really one of your core human needs?
We want to ensure you again that there’s nothing wrong with wanting certainty in your life. Knowing that, though, isn’t about prioritizing it the most out of fear, but understanding it and finding a balance among the others you may discover also hold some importance to you. Here’s what you need to know:
- Are you trustworthy?
- Do you always do what you say you’ll do?
- Do you enjoy planning? Thriving on a schedule?
- Are you very organized?
If for the most part the answer’s yes to any of these, chances are certainty is one of your basic core needs.
Do recognize the extreme in this as you may be less of a risk-taker, afraid of new experiences in your life, not to mention addictions and obsessive behaviors are pretty common. This is where you get to learn how to avoid those. Rein in that core human need and make it work for you.
Instead fullfill this need by finding activities you enjoy but also push you out of that comfort zone — just a little bit. Complacency and over-comfort is next to boredom in many cases, so ensure whatever your daily routines are, they’re not monotonous. They’re, in fact, empowering. Healthy. Life-giving. Growth-promoting. And above all else, consistent with your core values as a person. Don’t just do them, because they make you feel safe. Do them, because they give you value and a level of importance.
Want to know more about your basic core needs?
Your enriched life’s only beginning. It started when you began to discover who you really are, deep beneath the superficial layers. Keep going. It only gets better from here.
