Fulfilling Our Needs: How Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs Helps Us Achieve Our Full Potential
“If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you’ll be unhappy for the rest of your life” -Abraham Maslow
When deciding to start your healing journey, sometimes it is best to start small. Focusing on learning to fulfill our most basic needs can help set a foundation for your journey towards a happier, healthier life. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory separates our needs into five stages. In order to achieve self-actualization, you must satisfy each stage of needs before moving up to the higher levels. This theory was founded by Abraham Maslow in 1943.
Abraham Maslow was an American Psychologist who instead of focusing on the negative side of psychology, focused on maximizing our well-being and ways one could achieve their full potential. Maslow studied the behaviors and patterns of people he believed were extraordinary. Self-actualization was a major aspect of his research. He believed that people are constantly trying to push themselves and are trying to be the best they can be. But, before achieving self-actualization, you have to complete the four stages that come before.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs consists of five stages. Each stage has a set of needs that you have to accomplish before moving to the next stage. This motivational theory begins with our basic needs. This consists of stages one and two. The first stage is physiological needs like food, water, shelter, and sleep. Stage two is safety needs, having a job, living free of fear, and being safe from harm. Though they are basic needs, fulfilling the needs in these two stages is very important to your survival. If someone is unable to satisfy your basic needs, it could lead to illness or mental health issues. You deserve the time it takes to take care of yourself, and once the basic needs are satisfied you can move to the next stages.
The next two steps are grouped as your psychological needs. These two stages focus on psychological needs that need to be satisfied to motivate you in your life. Stage three is belongingness and love. These needs are satisfied by creating a supportive community, working on your intimate relationship, and making friends. Stage four focuses on self-esteem, which I discussed ways of improving in my last blog. People are social creatures that require some socialization. Whether this is having a large friend group and a lively social life or having a smaller, more intimate group of people, it is important to have a community that helps with your sense of belongingness and safety. Not being able to satisfy the needs in these two stages can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Once you are able to successfully satisfy the needs in the first four stages, one could move on to the final stage, self-actualization.
Self-actualization is when we realize our full potential and can live our most authentic lives. You can fulfill these needs by learning to be more spontaneous, becoming comfortable in your own company, appreciating the small things, developing compassion, and even working with a therapist. This final stage is not the final destination. As we go through life, we will need to adjust and sometimes return to the previous stages in the hierarchy. Even if this happens, you do not need to be discouraged. Life is full of twists and turns, and you are important enough to take the time it needs to care for yourself.
When I decided to start my healing journey, I also accepted the fact that I would be working on myself for the rest of my life. As someone with bipolar, I will have my good days and my bad days. Some days I will be at my full potential, while on others all I can do is focus on my basic needs. This is no reason for me to be disappointed in myself, but rather allow more space for self-love on the days I need it most. I have also made it a point to have a support community that can help me with both my bipolar and cPTSD. For me, it is important to make sure both my physiological and psychological needs are met to maintain my mental health and work towards my goals.
Though sometimes it may be difficult, I have to make sure I take the time to care for my needs to be the best I can for my family and my clients. For me to do this, I take days that I can focus on my self-love. Taking time to focus on my own well-being not only helps maintain my mental health, but also helps keep me motivated. Next week I will discuss self-love and ways to develop it. Always remember, you can rise from the ashes and soar.