Frolic 100 member Tim asked me about my referencing my “Hierarchy of Needs” in some recent articles. I decided to answer his question for everyone, and also clarify my understanding of it. This information is easily searchable on Google, but there’s only a single place on the entire internet which is my explanation of it. Right here.
When I refer to a Hierarchy of Needs, I’m referring to the work of American psychologist Abraham Maslow, in his mid-20th century work. This topic is quite famous, and quite discussed. Again, I’m going to tackle this from my perspective, instead of trying to explain it as a psychologist or PhD would.
It’s a pyramid, where the basic needs lie at the bottom, and once you meet them, allows your ascent to the ones above.
At the base level are what we need to literally live – Food, water, warmth, rest. Go without those for long and you are in big trouble. This is basic survival.
The next level of the hierarchy focuses on safety needs. That would include things like employment, money to survive, personal security. In a lot of my stories where I share my past struggles, I was operating at this level. Worrying about not providing for my family at this level is exhausting. Living paycheque to paycheque. No emergency fund or safety net. When I’m referencing my hierarchy of needs being met nowadays, it’s often this level I’m talking about, since I own my home, have income from business ownership, financial security and emergency funding, funded retirement, and I’m resourced to handle most emergencies. I often feel a lot of gratitude for having the needs in this level met, and that has given me strength as I’ve dealt with family issues with health, and my children.
The next group falls under “Love & Belonging”. Having time and energy in your life to develop friendships, love, and intimacy (romantic, and non). I’ve been fortunate to have been with my wife for 25 years, and this has been a rock in my life. I continue to deepen my relationship with my wife in ways I couldn’t know years earlier, and I have a desire to create more intimacy with the non-romantic relationships I have in my life. I’m a naturally reclusive person, so I’ve always had a handful of small, good friends, and seldom feel lonely. This means I do just fine outside of social media, and am content with writing for 100 exceptional people.
Above that is “Esteem”; feelings of accomplishment, respect (for yourself, and from others). This one I tackled in recent years as I took on my Imposter Syndrome. I now own my own success. I understand what I did, the risks I took, actions I took, things I created. I no longer feel like I fooled the world. This was a source of tremendous pain for me for many years, but any reader of my blog will have seen my own journey through this level. Really, my entire blog is me addressing this. I know I have value to share with the world, and you’re seeing me do it, and you’re giving your own precious time to read what I have to say.
The following level is known as “Self-Actualization”. That is a desire and pursuit to become the most you can be. You’ve seen me operate here when you watch me really lean into myself. No apologies or fear of being polarizing. Where I can effortlessly turn my weaknesses into strengths right in front of you. “Inner Peace” would be a part of this level, where regular “Peace” would be part of the safety and security level. Most people searching for personal fulfillment are operating here, and being able to do that kind of work is a privilege that is only made possible when the lower levels’ needs are met.
Based on my research there’s a level above that, that Maslow died before he made public, called “Self-Transformation“; When you feel nourished and full from having met the previous levels, there’s only one thing left to do and that’s selfless service to everyone, and the world. I believe this is an important piece of how one makes their next chapter their greatest chapter. Intersecting you at your most powerful, what drives you (and the knowledge of that), that your other needs are already met and you can focus on what the world needs.
I believe a lot of what drives me to keep writing, sharing my story, model what’s possible, host my Zooms, write books, is a deep desire to make the world better, simply from being me.
I’m also reflecting on my desire to be part of climate solutions, as the very bottom of this pyramid is threatened. We can’t have anything else if the bottom of the pyramid won’t support it. I’m exploring how to help solve it from my place at the top, since it will require new solutions that don’t exist yet and we can’t do what came before. I also believe we can’t collectively “personal growth” our way through this, but need to come up with some real innovation and solutions that work for everyone, not the privileged few, like myself, who’s needs are met.
We’re all in this together.
What level of the Hierarchy of Needs do you see the most opportunity for yourself? Who would benefit from that?
I am a big believer of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and have leveraged it throughout my life. I love the additional level of “Self-Transformation” and never knew that Maslow was thinking about that level before he died.
One comment for me is that the levels can be worked in parralel, not sequentially.
“Based on my research there’s a level above that, that Maslow died before he made public, called “Self-Transformation“; When you feel nourished and full from having met the previous levels, there’s only one thing left to do and that’s selfless service to everyone, and the world. “