Remember Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs? In 1945, Abraham Maslov published “A Theory of Human Motivation”. In it, he details a five-tier model of human needs. These included physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization, often depicted as a pyramid. He later added a sixth tier: self-transcendence, i.e., the self can only find its actualization outside him/herself through altruism and spirituality. In other words, “transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the cosmos” (Farther Reaches of Human Nature, New York 1971, p. 269). Each tier represents a need that must be met in the progress toward self-transcendence—or what I would call “well-centered fitness”.
Honestly, it has been a while since I have considered Maslov’s ideas, and I not studied his work in detail. However, it should be quite apparent that such needs are present and, if unmet, we will not realize all that we are intended to accomplish.
The wellness model has its roots in Maslov’s foundational work. While the hierarchy might seem to be step-wise, Maslov, himself, concluded that these are interrelated as opposed to distinct. Given that we can view these as interrelated, it is easier, then, to see “well-centered fitness”—i.e., the balance of the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social dimensions—as more hierarchial than as a divided pie.
“Self-actualization” is at the heart of my theme: be your best today; be better tomorrow. It is the recognition of Purpose.
“Self-transcendence” is the realization that we are not the center of the Universe and that our Purposes of interconnected. It is the realization that there is more beyond our self. This is that asymptote I call “well-centered fitness”. It is the intersection of the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social.
I place the Physical and Spiritual at the base of my ever-expanding, interrelated pyramid of “well-centered fitness”, because these form the motivation and the means to our “self-transcendence”. A human body that cannot function cannot succeed, let alone survive. Having no sense of Purpose provides no incentive to pursue “self-actualization” or “self-transcendence”. Thus, the Spiritual cannot be separated from the Physical. As well, we are, at the very basic Physical level connected and one.
My thoughts recently led me back to Maslov, as I considered the paths our divided nation is taking politically and socially. I considered that the success and advancement of our society is dependent upon providing all persons with access to the basic physiological needs—and essentially the first four tiers of Maslov’s Hierarchy. We cannot, however, stop there. Herein, is one of the fundamental philosophical divides in our society. On one hand, there are those who, rightly, want to assure that everyone’s basic needs are met. On the other hand, there are those who, rightly, feel everyone needs to take personal responsibility and pull themselves up by the bootstraps, so to speak. (Now, the issues are a bit more complicated and detailed than this, but, for the reader’s sake, I will keep it overly simplified and hope I cause no offense or misunderstanding.) Notice, I have attributed correctness to both sides. The thing is that both sides (if there are just two sides) fail to connect with the other. We need to realize that we cannot simply provide for one’s basic needs without giving one the boots with which to pull him/herself up. In such a case, we continue to trap people in poverty, leaving people dependent upon assistance or feeling entitled to the assistance. Likewise, we cannot stand on the side and watch as people struggle to survive without offering some level of help.
In my opinion, most critical to “self-actualization” are opportunity and desire. Society cannot thrive if either is lacking.
Carpe momento!