“Your inner strength is your outer foundation”
― Allan Rufus
Haven’t we all looked back on something in our past and wondered why in the world we did what we did? Just what was my motivation?
I’ve been doing a lot of questioning lately which made me think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.
It’d been a long time since I’d really thought about any of that and honestly, I’d never ever looked at it while examining certain parts of my past.
Remembering the first level of the pyramid was pretty easy because it’s so basic. At the physiological level we all work to meet our basic needs. Until our needs for good air to breathe, food to eat, water to drink, and enough sleep are met, we cannot move onto satisfying our other needs. Once those needs are successfully met, we are ready to move onward and upward.
Safety is the next level and the second of the two levels designated as the basic needs. After we have food and water, we can begin working on finding a home, a job, and ensuring good health.
Level three in the hierarchy is love or our social needs level. After establishing a safe haven we’re ready for friends and finding a place where we belong. It is at this stage when we feel the need to be part of a group, are open to accepting others, and accept being part of that group.
Esteem is word for level four or the level of respect. At this level we acquire a sense of self and the awareness of self achievement. At this stage we are gain the ability to respect others and ourselves.
Level five is the level of full potential. The words Maslow used to describe this level were self actualization–words that sound so strong to me. It is at this level where we reach peace. We are relaxed and accept ourselves for what we are and no longer care what others think of us. We feel safe and secure enough to be truly creative.
After reviewing the five levels, I had a better understanding of what my motivations were during certain times in my past. It was easier for me to appreciate why my world became so unstable when my mom died, after my divorce, or during those first months after I relocated to Colorado and why it took so long to recover.
My reading served as a constructive review as well as a gentle reminder knowledge mixed with a little time is a very powerful thing.
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
~Maya Angelou
I am…
B…simply being…
~Peace and knowledge to all~
B...simply being... 