Feeling of importance! Basic human need

Humanity has many needs to exist, but I believe that a “feeling of importance” is one of the basic needs after food, clothing and shelter. This basic feeling makes us feel loved and recognized. From my point of view, all progress in human history has occurred because of this need.

We all have this inner desire to be important in society. We continue to challenge ourselves and achieve greater success because of this basic need. When someone phrases us or our work, we feel proud. We have this feeling, that we are important. This feeling cannot be expressed in words, but I am sure you have experienced it. It is a feeling of satisfaction and joy.

People’s lives have changed, when someone expressed them. They become huge successes because they felt they are important. For example; Charles Dickens was a struggling writer in his early days. He wrote every day for years, but no one liked or published his work. But, one day, an editor wrote his work and that changed Charles’s life. He became one of the most popular English novelists.

As we know, children require the attention of parents or whoever is close. If they don’t get the attention, they start to misbehave or cry. It is the same feeling that adults crave. I have noticed that the wise always express themselves to each other, but not so wise; try to humiliate each other in public.

It is the human tendency to judge people and prove them wrong. This type of behavior is destructive to society. Some people learn to change the way they look at people, but most don’t even notice their destructive behavior.

Studies have shown that fostering learning and leadership is more effective than any other style. I read a story about a little boy who was in fifth grade, but he couldn’t read properly. Parents and teachers tried to help him in every possible way, but his reading skills did not improve much.

One day a new teacher started working at this school and she was assigned to the fifth grade. She when she realized that a child cannot read properly; she wanted to cheer him up. She found out all about this boy and knew that verbal encouragement would not work. She organized a small function for the fifth graders and invited all the teachers in the school. She gave prizes to the children for her achievements. She gave the most improved reader award to this child. After that day, this boy began to read rigorously and truly became the most improved reader in school.

Below are some of the main human desires, which I believe are for this feeling of importance:
• Well paid job.
• Start your own business.
• Save money.
• Buy expensive items (big houses, cars, etc.).
• Look better.
• Wants to be loved.

I was doing a radio show a couple of weeks ago and was discussing this topic. She was trying to point out that we should encourage and help each other to feel important. A person called the program and was upset with me. He said that we have to point out the shortcomings of others, so that we can improve. He told his story that he helped so many people in his life, but he never received any appreciation. He went on for 15 minutes about his success.

After his phone call, I told the audience that this was a perfect example of the need for importance. This person wanted to have the feeling of importance, but no one ever recognized his work and contribution. If we start making a list of each other’s shortcomings, the list will never be complete.

I’m not saying we need to nurture self-importance. Instead, I am saying that we need to foster the importance of others in our lives. Self-importance is destructive, but others’ importance is constructive. It builds better human relationships, motivates people to do something special with their lives, and brings happiness to our lives.

We have people everywhere around us who are struggling with their lives. We can do a smaller act to make them feel important. We can appreciate its existence in our society. Our single act or phrase can change someone’s life. Think about it!!

Actions to take.

As you all know, “we reap what we sow”. Let’s try to help each other to feel important, and find a way to improve ourselves. Make a conscious decision to:
• Look for something good to express in each person you interact with.
• Do not speak ill of anyone.
• Continually remind yourself that human beings depend on each other.

Try this for 30 days, and I’m sure you’ll reap what you sow.