I was first introduced to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Grade 6. I barely remember what was taught. After revisiting this concept though, I now understand the different stages of my life and why at times I was able to effectively pursue my goals and at other times fall flat on my face.
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was introduced in the 1940s as a fundamental framework for understanding human motivation and behavior. This concept explains how you are driven by a series of needs:
By understanding your motivations and behaviors that govern you, you can achieve the goals you set out for in life with more self-awareness and clarity.
Physiological Needs
At the base of Maslow’s pyramid lies physiological needs which are your basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and sleep. These are all fundamental for your survival. Without satisfying these requirements, you’ll struggle to move up the hierarchy. These Physiological needs are essential for growth and vitality.
They are the foundation of your physical well-being which serves as your first defense to life’s challenges.
There tends to be a common thread with my clients who can’t seem to make moves with their goals. They are so focused on what they want, they neglect their bodies (self-care). Which only perpetuates a cycle of stress. It’s hard to chase your goals on an empty stomach or with a throbbing headache from lack of sleep.
When you neglect yourself, you are unable to focus on anything beyond meeting these immediate physical needs.
How to make sure you are meeting your Physiological needs
Prioritize self-care rituals. When you put yourself first, you signal to your unconscious that you are the most important thing to look after. Which let me remind you. You are. You lay the foundation for everything that comes next.
Maintain a well-balanced diet. Eat a Mediterranean diet, and reduce sugar and processed foods.
I Repeat, Step Away From The Pre-packaged Food!
Stay Hydrated. You will lack the energy to do anything if you don’t have enough water in your system.
Sleep 8-9 hours a night. Whenever a client comes to me feeling overwhelmed and unable to handle their stress, the first question I ask is – how much sleep are you getting a night? Sometimes you need external help from a professional, other times you may just need more sleep to think clearly.
Breath. As you go about your day, make sure you are taking deep diaphragmatic breaths. Often I find myself holding my breath when I work. Scary, I know.
Regular Physical Exercise. Emphasis on regular. Our bodies are designed to move. Plus, exercise is a great way to get a dopamine hit which is vital for memory, more movement, motivation, mood, attention and so much more. Not to mention, numerous studies have concluded exercise is more effective than medication for treating depression.
Safety and Security Needs
Safety and Security needs entail seeking security, stability, and protection from both physical and psychological harm. This includes physical safety, financial security, emotional health, and stability in employment and relationships. When you feel unsafe or unstable, it’s a struggle to focus on your personal development or pursue any long-term goals. It’s important to find and nurture a stable environment within yourself and your community.
I don’t think I’ve ever met somebody who hasn’t experienced a traumatic experience in their life.
Our strength and resilience aren’t fortified when things are going well, quite the opposite.
There is a place for the challenges in our lives. The problem occurs when you can’t move past them. Even though your past experiences are in the past, they can impact your sense of safety and security in the present moment.
How to make sure you are meeting your Safety and Security needs
Assess your emotional landscape. Do you have roadblocks in your life that are causing you to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or out of control? Are there any parts of you that you are afraid to look at? These feelings can all cause a lack of safety and security within your psyche. Don’t take a passive stance on your internal world.
Boundaries. Set clear boundaries. If you don’t, the world will do it for you and it won’t be to your benefit.
Supportive relationships. Assess your close relationships. Do your loved ones give you a sense of security and acceptance of who you are? Support provides security. If your partner doesn’t provide security, you won’t have the security to chase your goals.
Financial security. Learn financial education to arm yourself with the right information. Have an emergency fund. Investments properly diversified to withstand any downturn. The more financially secure you are, the easier it is to make the moves required to achieve your goals.
Stable work & home environment. Work and home are arguably the two main parts of our lives. Take stock of both environments. When it comes to work, do you feel confident in your job security; at home, have you cultivated an environment where you and your partner are excited to be there?
Love and Belonging Needs
Humans are social beings, we all crave companionship, love, and a sense of belonging. This level of the hierarchy includes your relationships with your family, friends, romantic partners, and community connections. Our need for love and belonging only reinforces how important it is to form those connections and how cultivating a sense of community will only add to your life.
The impact of loneliness and social isolation on mental and emotional well-being can be detrimental to your pursuits.
There’s a reason why solitary confinement is the worst punishment they dish out in prisons.
How to make sure you are meeting your Love and Belonging needs
Nurture your existing relationships. Invest your time and effort into building deeper connections with the people in your life. Don’t be afraid to have those heart-to-heart chats. You’d be surprised by the same things we’re all dealing with in private.
Be proactive in finding social engagements. While it’s important to have alone time and find hobbies that you can do with yourself. It’s just as important to find hobbies and activities that are social to feel a sense of connection. Partly why coworking spaces are so popular.
Develop your interpersonal skills. Are you somebody who gives space in the conversation to others? Or is it all about you? Do you practice empathy with others or do you belittle their issues? Prioritize learning how to be a good friend and watch your community flourish.
Take time to appreciate your loved ones. We can all fall into the trap of taking our relationships for granted. When was the last time you took your partner out for a date night? The last time you thanked your friends for always having your back or called your parents to hear about their day?
Self-Esteem Needs
Self-esteem needs include both self-esteem and the desire for recognition and respect from others. As you satisfy your lower-order needs, you are finally ready to pursue your goals and achieve recognition, respect, and self-esteem. This involves external validation, such as praise and recognition, and internal factors like self-confidence and self-respect.
Your sense of self-esteem is what empowers you to rise above adversity with a high level of resolve.
When you create a deep-seated belief in your abilities you nurture your sense of purpose and your power of self-actualization. It’s about recognizing your worth and letting others see it too.
Once you feel validated in yourself, it’s important to have the validation of others as a means of reinforcing your self-esteem. I don’t mean this in an egotistical way, but when your actions aren’t validated by your loved ones, bosses, etc., it can plant the seed of self-doubt. Sometimes we need a pat on the back from others too. Without that acknowledgment from others, you can feel undervalued.
How to make sure you are meeting your Self-esteem needs
Feel confident in your skin. Do things that bolster your self-confidence like keeping your word to yourself. Practice self-compassion in the areas of yourself you still need to work on.
Set and Pursue your goals. If you don’t pursue goals, you won’t feel a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishments foster a sense of competence and validation of your abilities. You lose that sense of growth when you aren’t working towards something.
Focus on personal growth. Personal growth is a surefire way of enhancing your self-esteem. To grow you have to engage in activities that boost your self-confidence. Don’t be afraid to look within and to see what areas of your life you could grow more into.
Provide recognition and support to others. Since you know how important it is for your self-esteem to be recognized externally, make sure you are doing the same for others. Foster a culture of mutual respect and appreciation in both your personal and work life.
Self-actualization Needs
Self-actualization represents the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the realization of your full potential. Where you’re living your best life, pursuing your passions, and making a difference in the world. It’s about being true to yourself, unleashing your creativity, and finding that sense of purpose that makes you jump out of bed in the morning.
The desire to become the best version of yourself and how you make meaningful contributions to society.
When you’re in alignment with yourself, your values, and your purpose in life, you can relate to the world differently. When roadblocks inevitably appear, there is less animosity towards them. Because you see them as holistically part of the experience and something to be learned from.
How to make sure you are meeting your Self-actualization needs
Explore and align your inner world with your external world. This means understanding what your strengths, values, and aspirations are that guide you in life. Do the things you’re chasing in life align with who you are?
Create the conditions for the right mindset. Do you give up easily? Do you have a sour attitude when you aren’t good at things? Are you stuck in how you think things should be, rather than accepting what they are? Having a growth mindset will allow you to fully show up in each experience with an open mind and heart to get the most out of it.
Continuous learning. There is a German saying that somewhat translates to “a professional idiot”. The idea is that all you know is the profession that you’re in, and you’ve neglected to learn anything else. You may be a professional but you’re an idiot in all other aspects of life. The biggest stagnation to growth is getting lazy about wanting to learn new things.
Creative expression. Creative expression isn’t just about art, it’s about how you uniquely express yourself and creatively think about things. Don’t fall into the trap of digesting information from others and regurgitating their points of view and beliefs without critically thinking about it. Blindly following people or political groups is called a cult. Cultivate a sense of curiosity to foster your creativity.
Last Musings
In my opinion, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides a pretty good understanding of human motivation and behaviors. By understanding where you are on this hierarchy, you can gain more insights into what else you need to do to clear the way forward to pursue your goals and your personal evolution. By understanding how your behaviors and motivations dictate your life, you can ensure that you’ve created the proper conditions for your goals to thrive.