Key Idea: Life begins at WHY. Without it, we may just be merely existing without really living.
According to Tony Robbins, there are 6 Human Drivers. Every human person is driven by these 6 components, but at different levels of intensity and passion. This difference is very much influenced by our personalities and upbringing. Life experiences & traumas could also possibly alter our drivers at different seasons of our lives. But ultimately, it is the last 2 on his list (Growth & Contribution) that are considered “Higher” drivers that will bring greater happiness and satisfaction.
Tony Robbins’ 6 Human Drivers
- Certainty – The drive to know & control.
- Uncertainty – The drive for change & new experiences.
- Significance – The drive for fame & recognition.
- Love & Connection – The drive for meaningful relationships.
- Growth – The drive to keep learning & be better.
- Contribution – The drive to give back. Life is about creating meaning, living for a higher purpose.
There you go! By understanding what your inner driver is, you get to understand yourself better. And by understanding yourself better, this will explain your WHY and bring greater clarity & meaning to your changes & progress in life.
By the way, Tony Robbins said, “Change is automatic [but] Progress is not.” Reading that statement for the first time, I felt a switch turned on in my head. An “Aha! Moment”. I have always thought of myself as being an adaptable person, who quickly adjusts to a new situation. But on further reflection, I wonder how much of it was really just reacting & surviving, without experiencing any true progress? According to Robbins again, “Progress is the result of conscious thought, decision, and action – and these are all internal, within ourselves.” What has happened in the past is no longer in my control. But what I can do now (being older, wiser & inadvertently slower) is to carve out time to really reflect on my situation, so that I can consciously choose my decisions and own my actions. That way, progress can be within my own control.
