Introduction to Owning Your Life
This section is based on Basic Psychological Needs Theory, a sub-component of the larger idea called Self-Determination Theory. Basic Psychological Needs Theory maintains that happiness depends on pursuing intrinsic motivations, and satisfying our needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We achieve autonomy when we can choose our own tasks and goals rather than having them dictated to us. We feel competent when we feel a sense of mastery in important life domains. And we satisfy our relatedness needs when we have emotionally close and positive relationships with other individuals.