Apr 22, 2007 | 3:44 pm
Whacha Need?
I was talking the other day about how my goals have shifted over time. I no longer need to stop smoking or lose weight. I no longer need to get a new apartment or stock the kitchen. I’ve accomplished those tasks. I’ve also found and nuture the love of my life. I’ve been accepted into an exclusive life coach training and development program.
All of the above items meet the lower orders of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. These are called the deficiency needs, or those needs that must be met in order for life to be fully functioning. I have to be honest, I’ve spent 32 years simply trying to get the first 4 levels met. And what I discovered while I was talking the other day is that I’ve moved on and I’m seeking to meet the higher orders or Maslow’s hierarchy.
I had spent so much time trying to figure out where the next place I was going live was, or what I was going to do to feed my body, that I had little idea what lay beyond. So this morning I checked out the wikipedia entry on the hierarchy. I’ve achieved the “self-actualization” stage.
“Self Actualization is the intrinsic growth of what is already in the organism, or more accurately, of what the organism is.” — Edward Maslow
Wow. When I look back over what it took for me to get here, I am amazed and grateful for the journey. I love how the final stage of the hierarchy is continual growth of creativity, problem solving skills, closeness, morality, intuition.
Homework:
Check out the wikipedia link to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Answer these questions:
Which area of the hierarchy are you stuck at? Are you stuck? Is there an area that you haven’t been willing to look at fully?
What needs are the most important to you right now? Which needs have you really taken care of?
Do you believe that the hierarchy is the appropriate model for the concept? Perhaps the levels don’t occur in order and you can access all levels at once. Or perhaps the model doesn’t really work for you – why not?
Send me your thoughts and ideas. I’d love to know what you discover about yourself.
Truly Yours,
Joseph Lyons