More Valuable Results with Autonomy and Goals

Leveraging Independence and Purpose for Enhanced Outcomes

From my perspective, the basic human needs are autonomy, control, and purpose.

These needs provide and manage the energy necessary for behavior and are essential for our mental and emotional health. Without satisfying these needs, we can feel lost, unmotivated, and directionless. People value goals because they believe these goals will fulfill their fundamental needs, giving them meaning and direction in life.

At its core, the need for autonomy drives people to act. Autonomy means the ability to make your own decisions and follow your path without external constraints. It is what pushes people to start their businesses, change careers, take risks, or pursue their passions. The need for autonomy gives us the power to take action, make changes, and fight for what we believe is important.

Similarly, control and purpose are essential for us to feel competent and fulfilled in what we do. To understand the power of goals, we must also examine how they influence brain functions.

Our brain operates as a prediction engine, constantly seeking to anticipate what will happen next and how much energy will be required to handle future situations. This predictive ability is what allows us to plan, make decisions, and adapt…