A Few Reasons to use The 5 Needs in Your Class Meetings

We all share these basic needs in life. Although we may not have considered these specific needs in our life when we take a few minutes and explore each need, we can see that it is true we do seek ways to meet these needs in our lives, and so do others. We each do it in our own ways.

Our circumstances and personal development, our own situations and timing have a great deal to do with how we may or may not be meeting our needs and even if we can see these needs at all. Still, these needs are human, and we will strive to meet them, if not now, at some time. Our behaviors and efforts to meet these needs can vary and sometimes become unhealthy physically and emotionally. Nevertheless, we will strive in our own ways to meet the needs of:

1. Staying Alive
2. Love and belonging
3. Freedom and Boundaries
4. Power
5. Fun

Remember, these needs are not always simple or easy for some people to discuss. Depending on what is going on and their struggles, some people (or any age) may be unable to talk freely and may need some special time to express what is happening or to know someone cares. You may be that someone. What an honor and privilege that another person may share their deepest needs with you, and you may get the opportunity to help them get to the right resources or person to assist them in ways you may not be able to do.

Those who have gone through (or are currently secretly experiencing) any abuse may be unable to identify these needs in their own life. We never know what is going on or has gone on in the lives of the people we encounter. This is a good reason to be gentle, to leave the sarcasm and judgments behind, and listen. Listening is so important. Maybe ask questions. Maybe being willing to be present, just being there, can provide a space for things to come into the light.

IT IS NOT ALL UP TO YOU.

This does not mean we are responsible for “fixing” anything at all. We may be able to help the person find resources that can open doors to a brighter future. We do not want to ignore any “signs,” but we also do not want to jump to conclusions. There are trained people that can explore with the person what might be going on that needs attention in ways we cannot provide. The point is this: listen and reach out to others if you need to get help for a person. Get yourself a list of resources: school counselors, Department of Social Services, police, sheriff, local counselors, and anyone else in your community that may be helpful. Local food closets can be a resource for those struggling to stay alive and need help with food. Some churches have services that may support people. Sometimes electric and gas companies will offer payment options if needed. Start exploring while you have time. Start looking now and creating a list that can grow and change over time.

WHY BOTHER? I AM REALLY BUSY.

Here are some of the reasons to include The 5 Needs in your class meetings and attach them to academics too.

1. Bringing The 5 Needs to your students can help “level the playing field.” We all share these needs, so as we show how we are more alike than different, we “level the playing field.”
2. We can show diversity in ways that may not be as easy otherwise. When we explore each need and encourage students of different backgrounds to share what their family does to meet their needs, we show diverse ways of living and make “diversity” real and practical. Each culture has its own way of doing things. We can pause and carefully incorporate diversity into conversations with our students in class meetings and lessons.
3. We can help students develop more empathy. As we talk about the difficulties some people have with staying alive or feeling loved and having a sense of belonging, and we can do this with each of the needs, slowly and carefully. We can demonstrate the suffering that may go on, the loss and grief of some, without embarrassing any student. We can bring care for other humans in history, literature, and everyday life, into conversations. These may seem like “little things,” but they can make huge differences over time, some of which we may not be aware of at all, but they still happen. Some we will get to see.
4. Using the 5 Needs, we may be able to reduce bully-type behaviors. How? By showing how our behaviors and attitudes often reflect one or more of the needs not being identified and the need not being met in healthy or wise ways. As we explore bully-type behaviors from all age groups, we can often connect these behaviors to an unmet need. As students see this connection, they can learn to understand, not excuse but explain, behaviors and deal with them differently.
5. As we talk freely about the needs we share, we may find students come to us and share needs that are clearly unmet in their lives. We can help them get the resources they need to be healthy or build friendships, set boundaries, increase their personal power, or anything else they are struggling with that may have gone unsaid before opening the door with the language of The 5 Needs we share in life.

These are just a few of the reasons, and we will share more as we go. For now, start pondering and thinking about how, when, and where you can incorporate The 5 Needs in Life into your work. Once you begin, you will be glad you are making the effort and time to add this to your work and, hopefully, your personal life as well.

Thank you. Thank you for being open-minded, having a growth mindset, and trying something new. I know this will be worth the effort. I am here for you if you want to set up a consultation and brainstorm, or need some ideas, or want some training. Just reach out, and I will get back to you: the5needsinlife@gmail.com.