Thoughtful Thursday...

 

 

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

 

Maslow created this pyramid of needs in 1954 based on years of research and training.  With few alterations, it is generally accepted today as outlining our fundamental needs to live a full, satisfying life.

 

A full satisfying life...methinks this could mean much different things to people.  If you are starving, any food would represent a satisfying life.  That would be all it takes, until...and this is where it gets interestin'.

 

Once full and regularly fed and watered, our wants start climbing the pyramid. We'll then start desiring shelter, a family, safety.  After these needs are satisfied, we'll want a job, friends, respect and so on and so on until we reach the top.

 

This is the psychological hook marketers use to seduce us into wanting what they're selling.  A simple bowl of soup and glass of water will appease a starving man, but once full, well...wouldn't a steak and a 1000 dollar bottle of wine be sooo much better? 

 

Wouldn't a 5000 square foot home and a Cadillac be much more pleasing than a cracker box and a station wagon...and what about...

 

a bigger TV...

 

a better, higher paying  job...

 

no job, independently wealthy...

 

a sexier wife...

no wife...
 

more kids...

 

better behaved kids...

 

no kids...

 

No wonder we are NEVER HAPPY!!  Advertisers know we'll desire and pursue bigger, better, newer if shown the way.  It becomes a vicious cycle of debt, worry, more debt and never, ever being able to keep up!

 But their way will never get us to the top of Maslow's pyramid which is self-actualization or what some refer to as attaining our `"higher" self's or becoming enlightened...or

 

what I call our spiritual relationship with God...this is the true way to attaining happiness, not buying in (literally) to the false promise of consumerism.

So what does a spiritual relationship with God look like?  It will be different in some ways with every individual, but there are some basic guidelines that you'd see in your life.

 -  you're contented in your life just as it is, which doe not mean you're without goals or ambition, but rather you are happy regardless.

-  you talk (pray) to God about all things in your life, seeking his will (not your own).  For example you'll pray about; decisions, other people, changes, ambitions, etc.

-  you'll read the Bible regularly discovering more and more the true character and nature of God.

These are just some examples of our search for "self-actualization" that Maslow was talking about with his pyramid.  Wherever, this pursuit takes you or however it looks; the world's ways of newer, bigger, better should be losing it's grip on your life. 

You should be calmer, more joyful, more mindful and above all these...

more loving toward all others in all circumstances...
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Tha...tha...that's all folks!