LOOKING AT MOTIVES THROUGH MASLOW'S LENS

 

It’s amazing how we can look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and see how it applies to other people but not ourselves. How many times have you heard a story, and said that would never happen to me? Maslow’s Hierarchy applies to everyone, in every culture, in every financial group. It may just be easier to look at someone else and see what they are struggling with and know what their next step should be. Maslow discovered that all humans have five basic motivational needs, pictured on this pyramid starting at the bottom and building upward. This means starting with basic survival requirements such as food, water and shelter. For some members of our community, it is all they can do to ensure that these needs are met, as it takes all their mental resources to find something to eat, to find a place to use the restroom or a place to lay their head at night.  Borrowed from Adam Kirk Smith https://asmithblog.com/maslows-hierarchy-needs/

If these needs go unmet, it can be hard to focus and can keep someone in survival mode.     The second level on the pyramid is safety. While hardly on the radar for some, it can be a struggle for others to find it consistently. This security and protection from harm are what make it possible to relax. The third level is love and belonging. This encompasses our social connections, intimate relationships and friendships, which are part of what builds belonging, affecting our mental health, cognitive development and survival. Building on this, the fourth level is esteem. This is where we build our confidence and self-esteem, gain respect for ourselves and others and need to feel valued. We want to be recognized for doing a good job.     The fifth level is self-actualization. It is realizing your own worth, being your authentic self and pursuing personal growth. This involves having values and morals and maintaining strong ethics of right and wrong. This is the place where people can bask in their creativity, be open to new experiences and focus on outside challenges rather than just personal needs.     How might this information affect you and others? Next time you are standing next to someone in the store, at Circle of Hope or anywhere in public, ask yourself what stage they may be on in this hierarchy. You likely will never know what people struggle with behind closed doors. A simple smile, an introduction or a joke to let them know they are seen can go a long way in helping someone feel human and accepted. In embracing this perspective, we open ourselves to the beauty of shared humanity. This is how we build a more compassionate and inclusive world, one interaction at a time.