what is it we all share?

[oreokid]

hi all

i have a request if i may. i am working on a project that involves the question:

what is common to all humans everywhere? regardless of culture, socio-economic standing, country of habitat, or gender...

i come up with things like: love of their children, desire to have fun, curiosity, learning, ect.

i am looking for the things that make all humans everywhere siblings. that we all have in common.

what say you...

[CSummer]

We all, I believe, have essentially the same needs that make us human and are the inner source from which all human behavior arises. There are many and I like to break them down to: physical, emotional/relational, learning/creative, and spiritual/existential.

[jitterbug]

A need to feel belonging and significance.

[Esra]

This is an great question which I myself have studied long ago. I believe I've found my answer to it:

All people want to be in charge of their own destiny.

That's it!

[Neshamah]

I think it is a need for nourishment which can very broadly be divided into physical, informational, and emotional (which can include spiritual.)

Sometimes these needs will conflict, e.g. some will skimp on physical nourishment in order to belong to a group or because they empathize with others without the same access to physical nourishment. I guess that would be guilt which I guess is a sort of emotional injury.

I know that's an oversimplification, but it was a complex question.

~ Jessica (Neshamah)

[nurturetruth]

Some may prefer referring to Maslow's hierarchy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs,
because it is simple and less wordy as it divides our basic human needs into groups.
I for one love playing with "words" .

Esra previously quoted her answer : "All people want to be in charge of their own destiny. "

I am interpreting Esra's beautiful response as we all share a human need for autonomy in that we all hold the desire to choose (and plan for fulfilling) our own dreams, goals, and values.

I also resonate with Jitterbug's statement of :
"A need to feel belonging and significance."

I resonate with Jitterbugs statement and interpret her statement as sharing a human need for : self worth, acceptance, and contributing to the enrichment of life.

I notice CSummer enjoys breaking down the human needs we all share into categories .

My preference is divided categories as well but in the form of:
Autonomy, Celebration, Integrity, Interdependence , Physical nurturance , Spiritual communion.
(see pg. 57; Non-violent Communication: a Language of Compassion,Marshall Rosenberg,1999)

One of my favorite answers to "What is it we all Share?", would be:

" To celebrate the creation of life and dreams fulfilled as well as to celebrate our losses : loved ones,dreams,etc. (mourning) "

I have really enjoyed reading the beautiful responses to this thread!
Much appreciation goes out to Oreokid and those who have already responded and of course , to those who may choose to respond.

Blessings!

[CSummer]

Oh, yes, and then there are all the feelings (emotions and sensations we experience in our bodies) we humans have, which I imagine are pretty universal. We probably also share other functions of the mind or psyche: figuring out how to get our needs met, making sense of our experiences and life, enabling us to feel better about ourselves and life - even if that means hiding or burying some problematic things outside our conscious awareness.

In short, psychologically, my guess is we're all about the same.

We all, I believe, have essentially the same needs that make us human and are the inner source from which all human behavior arises. There are many and I like to break them down to: physical, emotional/relational, learning/creative, and spiritual/existential.

[Lorrie]

THAT IS SIMPLE...

The answer is a need to be loved.

[Esra]

THAT IS SIMPLE...

The answer is a need to be loved.

I don't need to be loved.

[Lorrie]

I don't need to be loved.

That is because you probably already are...by someone.

[Esra]

That is because you probably already are...by someone.

Yup, no one is hungry after a feast, I believe you are correct.

But still even without, I don't need to be loved. I thought I needed to be loved when I was young, but now I realize it's not that important to me personally.

It's kinda nice to be left alone.

[Barry]

This is an great question which I myself have studied long ago. I believe I've found my answer to it:

All people want to be in charge of their own destiny.

That's it!

I don't know that everybody would agree to that (even though it may be so).

I can imagine that there are people who would like somebody/something else to be in charge of their destiny....

[Barry]

what is common to all humans everywhere? regardless of culture, socio-economic standing, country of habitat, or gender...

The planet, the ground and atmosphere and sunshine in particular.

And our physiology (our bodies), even though we all appear to be separate, we are all instances of the human form.

[sd gross]

An ego - or, in the absence of one, enlightenment.