Free Core Need Decoder: Discover What You're Really Fighting For
Stop treating symptoms and start addressing what you actually need. Your emotions are pointing to one of four fundamental human needs that isn't being met.
Uncover Your Core Need:
- Autonomy - Your need for choice, control, and self-direction
- Connection - Your need for belonging, understanding, and love
- Competence - Your need to feel capable, effective, and growing
- Security - Your need for safety, stability, and predictability
Core Need Decoder
Understand what you're really fighting for underneath your emotions.
What feels most threatened or blocked in your current situation?
How the Core Need Decoder Works
Based on Self-Determination Theory and decades of psychological research, this tool identifies which of your four fundamental human needs isn't being met in your current situation.
Identify What's Threatened
Directly identify which fundamental need feels blocked or threatened in your situation.
Describe Your Situation
Context helps us understand which need is being threatened or blocked.
Discover Your Core Need
Get specific insights about what you're really fighting for and how to meet that need.
The Four Core Human Needs
🎯 Autonomy
Your need for choice, control, and self-direction. When autonomy is threatened, you feel controlled, micromanaged, or like your voice doesn't matter.
💝 Connection
Your need for belonging, understanding, and meaningful relationships. When connection is threatened, you feel lonely, misunderstood, or isolated.
💪 Competence
Your need to feel capable, effective, and growing. When competence is threatened, you feel incompetent, stuck, or like you're not making progress.
🛡️ Security
Your need for safety, stability, and predictability. When security is threatened, you feel anxious, uncertain, or like the ground is shifting beneath you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the Emotion Signal Decoder?
The Emotion Signal Decoder helps you understand what your emotions are telling you. This Core Need Decoder goes directly to what fundamental human need isn't being met - the root cause behind your emotional patterns.
Can I have multiple unmet needs at once?
Absolutely! This tool identifies the primary unmet need in your current situation, but complex life situations often involve multiple needs. Use the tool for different aspects of your life.
What if I don't know what I've tried that didn't work?
That's okay! The "what you've tried" section helps refine the insights, but you can skip it if you're not sure. The tool will still provide valuable guidance based on your emotion and situation.
How do I know if the actions will work for me?
The suggested actions are research-backed strategies for meeting each core need. Start with the one that feels most doable or resonant for you. Small steps in the right direction often create positive momentum.