Good grief! Who is Maslow and what is a "hierarchy of needs"? Basically this is a list of needs in order of what's most basic (what we need for first) to what's most esoteric, but still a need. Once a lower need is met, we are driven to want to meet the next need. Finally we are at the top, at we are at a state of "peace" or fulfillment. I call it something else, but more on that later.
Maslow studied accomplished and as well-adjusted subjects as possible espousing that the study of those who were not fully functioning would result in a "sick" look at psychiatry, so he preferred to look at the whole or healthy people to determine his hierarchy of needs.
Why in the world is this important or do we need to know this?
This helps us understand where we are and why we are reacting to the stimuli and environment around us. What Maslow discovered is that we are most concerned with the basic (lower level) first. then move to the next level, on up the pyramid.
If at any time moving up this pyramid, one of the lower needs is not met, then even though a person will maintain the current level, he/she will will work to re-establish that lower need to be met.
This helps us understand what happens when we have something traumatic, and also helps understand a little why we are feeling the way we are, and how normal (if you can call these times normal), we are.
The basic needs are really easy - sort of a "duh" statement, but worth looking at. The first sets of needs are physical....those that we need to physically survive. That's easy.
Next step - safety - that's easy too.
Third step - love, relationships. We are absolutely created to be social; to love; to have relationships. No man is an island - well if he/she is, then he/she is not happy if that person is really honest with him/herself. Also if this department fails (lack of fulfillment at this level) we know that something is wrong and we need to repair or work on it. That's why we are happiest when we are fulfilled at this level.
Fourth step - How do you feel when you are accomplished? How do you feel when you have performed a task excellently and know it? How do you feel when you are proud of yourself? These are the feelings with this step.
This is important because these feelings get into those feelings that are necessary to succeed. These are those feelings that are important to remember when you have the mean reds, when you are low and need an emotional oomph! These are some of the feelings that you need to feel to promote that feeling of success that is so important to the fruition of your dreams and wishes.
The next step is self-actualization. Believe it or not, this naturally comes with this process. If you are clear about all your steps, your wish list, and about the attitude you have (one of being positive - no revenge), then these attributes come easily and are a natural by product.
Nevertheless, it's important to also look at these. These are going to be more of your goals after you accomplish your basic needs. It's important, because how do you feel when you have morality, spontaneity, creativity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice. These are additional clues as to the feelings that you want to nurture in yourself to bring on your success.
Sixth Step - Not mentioned specifically here, but Maslow went further to the next level. This level was one of self-transcendence - a level of being aware of the God within us. Again this is a natural and easy step in our process. As a matter of fact this is something that we want to promote. We want to have the awareness of the God in us - what is called the Holy Spirit. The awareness and acceptance of this God in us, is what keeps us not only in constant communication with God, but also gives us the strength, stamina, patience, courage, wisdom, and just about anything else we need to suffer through the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that the world can throw at us. I like to think of this step as the atonement or at-one-ment with God!
Hopefully Maslow's hierarchy of needs helps you understand this process further and brings it closer to why the process has the track that it does!
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