In this blog post, we're diving into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, a psychological theory that breaks down our needs into a pyramid of five levels: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

It's crucial to address these foundational needs first, as doing so can amplify the benefits of meditation, affirmations, and manifestation. By the end of this blog post, you'll have a clear roadmap to ensure you're building your personal growth on the strongest foundation possible.

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We live in a world that constantly encourages us to meditate, affirm our goals, and manifest our dreams. I'm a huge advocate for these practices and use them myself. But there's a crucial element we sometimes miss: the foundation upon which all these practices are built.

Think of it like building a house. You wouldn't start decorating the living room or painting the second-floor bedroom before ensuring the foundation is solid, right? The same principle applies to our personal growth. If your foundation—your basic needs—isn't met, it's like trying to build on shaky ground.

Breaking Down Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Let's break down Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and understand each level with some real-life examples.

Physiological Needs

At the base of Maslow's pyramid are our physiological needs: basic necessities for human survival like food, water, shelter, and sleep. Without these, our bodies can't function properly, and our minds can't focus on anything beyond immediate survival.

Example: Imagine you're working long hours and neglecting your diet and sleep. You might find it hard to concentrate, feel irritable, and lack energy. Before you can think about personal growth or even your weekend plans, you need to address these basic needs by ensuring you eat balanced meals, stay hydrated, and get adequate rest.

Raising kids is another perfect example. What happens when you have a child who’s hungry or overtired? It’s not pretty, right? We focus on meeting these needs before doing anything else.

Interestingly, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs parallels the ancient wisdom of the chakra system.

So for this example, the pyramid base corresponds to the Root Chakra, located at the base of the spine, which represents our foundation and sense of security. Just as our basic physical needs must be met for survival, the Root Chakra must be balanced for us to feel grounded and stable.

Safety Needs

Once our physiological needs are met, we seek safety and security. This includes personal safety, financial stability, health, and well-being. It's about having a predictable environment where we feel protected from harm.

Example: Consider someone living in a neighborhood with high crime rates. They might feel anxious or stressed all the time, worrying about their safety. Similarly, someone facing job insecurity might constantly stress about paying bills. To focus on personal growth, they need to first find a safer living environment or secure their financial situation.

Here are some questions to consider:

Do you feel safe and secure in your current living environment?
Are there any situations or places that make you feel unsafe or anxious?
Do you have a clear understanding of your financial situation?

If we look at it through that energetic lens again, this is correlating with our sacral chakra which is located below the navel, which governs our sense of safety, emotions, and relationships. A balanced Sacral Chakra helps us feel secure and allows for healthy emotional expression and connection.

Once the needs at the first two levels of Maslow’s hierarchy have been fulfilled, the social needs begin to take greater precedence.

Love and Belonging

Humans are inherently social beings, and we need to feel connected to others. This involves relationships with family, friends, and communities. Love and belonging are about forming emotional bonds and feeling accepted and valued by others.

Example: Think about a person who just moved to a new city for work. Despite having a good job and a nice apartment, they might feel lonely and disconnected without friends or family nearby. Joining social groups, making new friends, or maintaining virtual connections with loved ones would be a good way to fulfill this need.

We sometimes take for granted that love and belonging are basic needs. Harlow’s famous study with rhesus monkeys in the 1950s demonstrated this. The monkeys preferred the comfort of a cloth-covered surrogate over a wire one, even when the wire surrogate provided food. This showed the importance of emotional connection and comfort over basic physiological needs.

In human studies, individuals with strong social connections tend to experience better mental health, lower stress levels, and greater overall happiness.

From an energetic perspective, this need can relate to the Heart Chakra, governing love, relationships, and compassion.

Esteem

After establishing love and belonging, we seek esteem. This involves both self-esteem (confidence, achievement, self-respect) and esteem from others (recognition, status, respect from peers). Esteem needs are about feeling valued and accomplished.

Example: Maybe you’re a professional who works hard but you never receive recognition from your boss. You spend a lot of your time there feeling undervalued which leads to you not having motivation to show up. On the other hand, if you received a little praise for your efforts once in a while, or were recognized or given an award or someone said ‘hey, you’re doing so great breakfast is on me today.’ This might boost your confidence and self worth. Not that we always need an ‘atta boy’ or pat on the back, but again it’s a basic human need to feel worthy and to be seen.

Cultivating self-esteem can also come from setting and achieving personal goals or learning new skills. Think of how it feels to set a goal of running a 5K and you actually stick to the training plan, you hold yourself accountable, then you show up and you have support from friends, family and strangers on the sidelines. It’s motivating and it gives you momentum to keep going.

Other examples of activities that can fulfill self-esteem needs are: academic accomplishments, professional recognition, being part of a team sport, maybe being part of a volunteer or church group, or anything that gives you are making a contribution to society.

Gaining self-respect and recognition from others—correspond to the Heart Chakra, located in the center of the chest. This chakra is the bridge between our physical and spiritual selves, governing love, self-worth, and compassion. When we feel valued, seen, and confident, our Heart Chakra is in balance.

Self-Actualization

Self actualization is about realizing our fullest potential and seeking personal growth and self-fulfillment. It's the pursuit of our passions, creativity, and purpose in life.

This is the holy grail and the peak of the hierarchy. But even though it’s the top, it’s not a destination or endpoint. You don’t just get there and say hooray I’m done growing as a person, just like we would never claim to be fully healed and perfect. That just doesn't exist because we are human. there will always be something - like real life shit to deal with that will make us have set backs. AND, more importantly, it’s hard to find this elusive ‘purpose’ that people talk about. So instead, I want you to think of self actualization as the COMMITMENT to becoming a better version of yourself and knowing that if you are always learning and growing, then the byproduct is fulfillment.

To truly understand the concept of self-actualization, let me tell you a quick story about my make up friend named Georgia.

Georgia always had a love for painting, but life took her on a different path. She studied business, got a stable job, and focused on raising her family. Though she was successful and loved her family dearly, there was always a small part of her that felt unfulfilled, a lingering sense that she wasn’t living her life to its fullest potential.

One day, Georgia’s company announced a restructuring, and she found herself at a crossroads. Instead of jumping back into the job market, she decided to take some time off to reflect on what she truly wanted out of life. She remembered that she loved to paint as a child. She began to paint again, finding joy in the simple act of creating art.

As she painted, Georigia realized that she had neglected a core part of herself for too long. This creative expression wasn't just a hobby; it was a fundamental part of who she was. She took baby steps toward this joy and started taking art classes and connecting with other artists. Through this process, she rediscovered her passion and realized her true potential.

Georgia began to exhibit her work in local galleries. Her art resonated with people, and she felt a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose. She wasn't just painting; she was sharing a piece of her soul with the world.

Her journey didn’t stop there. She went on to teach art classes and host events, and in the end probably lived happily ever after because she took out the logic and followed her heart. The community thrived, and Georgia found that her true calling was not just in creating art, but in helping others discover and nurture their own passions.

Isn’t that a feel good story?! That could be you! Think about Georgia’s journey. She had a good life by many standards, but it wasn’t until she aligned her actions with her true passions that she found real fulfillment.

This is the essence of self-actualization—living a life that is true to who you are, continually growing, and making a positive impact in the world.

So, here’s my challenge to you: Take a moment to reflect on your own journey. Are there areas in your life where you feel disconnected from your true self? Are there passions or dreams you’ve set aside? What steps can you take today to move closer to your fullest potential?

Remember, self-actualization isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. It’s about continually striving to be the best version of yourself, embracing your unique gifts, and making a positive impact in the world.

To help you on this journey, try these steps:

Reflect: Spend some time journaling or meditating on what truly matters to you.
Reconnect: Identify one passion or hobby that you’ve neglected and make a plan to reintroduce it into your life.
Reach Out: Connect with like-minded individuals or communities that can support and inspire you.
Set Goals: Create small, actionable goals that align with your true self and work towards them consistently.

“Take care of yourself, honor your needs, and remember: true growth starts from the ground up. ”

— XOXO

Unlocking Your Potential: The Path to Self Actualization