TED lecture: Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins asks why we do what we do | Video on TED.com

(maybe a cheesy, petty choice but thought it worked on some level)

Tony Robbins discusses the "invisible forces" that motivate everyone's actions. The 2 invisible forces at play are: 1) our state (physical and emotional) and 2) our model of the world/world view: the shaper of meaning, emotion and action. What is our motive for action? What is it that shapes us? Tony believes it is emotion that is the force of life. And the invisible force of internal drive, activated, is the most important thing in the world. Tony concludes that there are 6 human needs (not goals or desires) that are universal: 1) certainty, 2) uncertainty, 3) significance, 4) connection and love, 5) growth and 6) contribute beyond ourselves. We all have the same needs but are all driven by different ones. Robbins encourages the audience to explore their own web- the needs, the beliefs, the emotions that are controlling them. And also to understand and appreciate what drives other people.

I think that the universal human needs that Robbins lists can be used to explain why we seek out our relationships, be it friendship, romance, etc. I also think it helps to explain why people become pet keepers... why they seek out a relationship with an animal(s). The human-animal bond can offer certainty (pets can offer certainty that people can avoid pain and at least be comfortable with the pet), we need uncertainty (pets offer variety, surprise and spontaneity), significance (our pets can make us feel important, special and unique), connection and love (we want it. We can get it through intimacy, friendship, prayer, walking through nature, or even a pet), growth (we bond and grow with our pets over time. If we aren't growing or a relationship isn't growing, we feel like hell. We grow in order to give something of value) and finally, contributing beyond ourselves (its not about me, its about we. Contributing to our pets and the relationship we have with animals. i.e. walking your dog, brushing your cat, training your dog to be a therapy animal to others, volunteering at your local animal shelter, etc.)

How would you define the 2 invisible forces at play (1. physical/emotional state & 2. world view) in pet keepers?

What is it that drives people to be pet keepers?