Week 3: The Role of Innate Resources

One of the most empowering ideas within the Human Givens approach is that you already possess the internal resources you need to meet life’s challenges. Rather than seeing people as broken or deficient, we view every person as equipped with a built in toolkit, a set of innate (internal) resources designed to help us survive, adapt, and flourish.

These resources include imagination, emotions and instincts, rational thinking, memory, pattern recognition, self awareness, a dreaming brain and the ability to communicate and connect. When used effectively these capacities help us navigate relationships, solve problems, regulate emotions, and plan for the future. But when misused (such as when imagination is hijacked by worry) the very same tools can fuel distress.

Understanding and activating these resources is central to Human Givens therapy. Techniques like guided imagery, the rewind technique, positive rehearsal, and structured reflection help people apply resources more constructively. A growing body of evidence shows that resource based interventions focusing on existing strengths effectively reduces stress and enhances wellbeing.

Have you ever wondered why so many creative people seem to linger in sadness or depression? It’s because their imaginations are so powerful that when it’s misdirected, it can run wildly astray. By learning to harness our emotional needs and channel our innate resources in healthy ways, we can build the foundations for lasting change.

This week, take a moment to notice how your imagination and memory are shaping your mood, are they working for you or against you? Each day spend a couple of minutes visualising yourself in a calm, grounded state, approaching life’s challenges with confidence and clarity. You might be surprised by how quickly your perspective begins to change!

In next week’s blog we’ll be focusing on how our emotional needs and innate resources interact with each other.

— Lee Allison

References:
1. Human Givens Institute – The Human Givens Approach. https://www.hgi.org.uk/about-hg/what-are-human-givens
2. Smoktunowicz E., et al. (2021). Resource-Based Internet Intervention (Med-Stress). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7834939/
3. Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2003). Human Givens: The New Approach to Emotional Health and Clear Thinking. HG Publishing