Did you know that whatever we do as human beings, we are in a way, trying to fulfill our humanly needs in life? Whatever we do... From eating to going to depression and from studying and growing to just being lazy and procrastinating... And even from getting angry and feeling careless...
As an experimental behaviorist and a peak experience humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow was the first ever psychologist who wanted to learn what constituted positive mental health and human potential. Before him, the science of psychology was a little busy and packed by other psychologists who were all into what was ill or not perfect. Thanks to Abraham Maslow, and his theory for Human Motivation that he wrote in 1943 that we all now know what's behind our actions and behaviors today... Our humanly needs...
These needs -as shown below- from the bottom to the above are:
- Physiological needs
- Safety needs
- Love/belonging needs
- Esteem needs
- Self-actualization needs
Physiological needs are the ones that are vital to our humanly survival such as breath, water, food, sleep and healthy survival.
Safety needs are the ones that are securing our survival in emotional, financial and mental maintenance of our being such as our jobs, health and peaceful state of mind. This is our need for certainty and uncertainty at the same time. Because once we are certain, we want to be uncertain in our lives for the sake and taste of surprises and variety.
Once the basic physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, we start to realize the need to connect and to love with others around us like our friends, family members and co-workers. This is our need to connect and love.
And as we climb up to upper level needs of our humanly existence; connecting, belonging and loving is not enough. We want to achieve things, feel capable to get respect from others, to feel successful and confident about our life and the future we want to create. This is our need for significance and growth.
And then... We want to be ourselves... We want to experiment and experience the real being inside of us, the real potential we have and the real mind power there is within us... We want to actualize the mission we have in this life... We want to be the best we can possibly be in this lifetime and then... We want to contribute beyond us... This is our need for contribution.
Now, ask yourself, which needs are you fulfilling with your habitual actions? Maybe certainty with your anger or significance with your career? Maybe love with your anger and growth with your career?
Just think about it... You will be amazed by the answers you'll find, only if you are truly honest to yourself...
As you notice, these needs can be met either in positive or negative ways. And the important thing is how we fulfill these needs in our lives and to be able to find the best ways to fulfill these needs that are good for us, feels good, good for others and serves for the greater purpose in life.
Have fun fulfilling your humanly needs in the most positive fulfilling ways!
Burcu Unsal
Master Marketing Communications and Human Excellence Professional
www.be-liveinu.com
www.burcuunsal.com
