Stress Meditation- Releasing Daily Stress
Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs
Maslow assumed needs are arranged in a hierarchy in terms of their potency. Although all needs are instinctive, some are more powerful than others. The lower the need is in the pyramid, the more powerful it is. The higher the need is in the pyramid, the weaker and more distinctly human it is.
1 st Physical Needs: The first four layers of the pyramid are what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "D-needs:" the individual does not feel anything if they are met, but feels anxious if they are not met. The base of the pyramid is formed by the physiological needs, including the biological requirements for food, water, air, and sleep.
2 nd Safety Needs: Once the physiological needs are met, an individual can concentrate on the second level, the need for safety and security. Included here are the needs for structure, order, security, and predictability.
3 rd Love/Belonging Needs: Included here are the needs for friends and companions, a supportive family, identification with a group, and an intimate relationship.
4 th Esteem Needs: This group of needs requires both recognition from other people that results in feelings of prestige, acceptance, and status, and self-esteem that results in feelings of adequacy, competence, and confidence. Lack of satisfaction of the esteem needs results in discouragement and feelings of inferiority.
5 th Spiritual Needs: Self-actualization is the instinctual need of humans to make the most of their unique abilities and to strive to be the best they can be.
* They embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them.
* They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
* They are creative.
* They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others.
* They have a system of morality that is fully internalized and independent of external authority.
* They do not judge others.
* They feel a closeness to other people, and appreciation of life.