Wellness Chats & Anatomy Facts: Maslow's Hierarchy and Your Self-Care

Lets talk about the basic foundations of self-care and how we show up to meet our needs.

On a foundational level, if we have food, shelter, clothes and water for drinking and cleaning; we have all we need to survive. But how do we transcend just living in survival mode so we can reach our highest potential and our highest good?

Maslow's hierarchy of needs.. Ahh, brings me back to being a freshman in Psych 101. It makes sense, on the surface, but in real life, that hierarchy can be all over the place.

I dont necessarily need to have my basic needs met in order to have loving relationships, although it certainly helps. But, many people who live in poverty do it in the company of those they love.

Perhaps, Maslow's hierarchy shouldn't be taken so literally, perhaps we should look to it as no more than a simple guide for how we can create a foundation of self care and self fulfillment.

Self-actualization, is the very top of the pyramid on the hierarchy. The thing we achieve once we have achieved all else. But what if self-actualization actually helped us in the other areas instead?

The idea behind Maslow's hierarchy is that you can't achieve 'your greatest self' if the foundation isnt there: basic surivival, safety, psychological needs..

When your surviving youre not thinking about taking care of yourself by exercising, eating high quality foods, meditating and getting massage. Youre thinking about getting your next meal regardless of its quality, youre thinking about how youre going to make it through the month. That can put a person in a very negative space, with a very negative outlook.

In fact, peple get so used to living like this, that even when they do have security, loving relationships and accomplishments; they still live in that survival-mode, worrying about how they can keep and sustain what they now have.

This is why I'm here. To say; take a breath. Relax your shoulders, relax your jaw, relax your forehead and let it go. We dont need to view our sitation as all-encompassing and everlasting. We are much, much greater than the things we go through.

Matter fact, that struggle, that ability to survive; it prepared you to be the best version of yourself. And likewise, when youre going through struggles you dont have to sacrfice taking care of yourself either. Meditating is free, calisthenics are free, stretching is free, breathwork (the most powerful tool we have) is free. The reason why people dont do this, isnt because they can't (not including those who might be sick or infirmed), but because they are not told that they should. They arent told they have the same tools available to them that the people who have all their needs met are doing. Because doing those practices requires nothing more than your body, your mind and your soul. Perhaps if they didnt believe the capitalist lie that they need fancy, out-of-touch services, luxury gyms and boutique healing centers-- even those who are still unfortunately on the bottom of the hierarchy can achieve aspects of the top-- and feel more empowered to escape their current situation. In fact, practicing self-care during your most difficult times will help you get through it.

This is why hierarchical systems are flawed. They dont flow naturally, they require a stacking that can feel very unnatural and unproductive. Having one tier of the hierarchy doesnt necessarily mean we have the one(s) that precedes it.

So what does this mean for those of us fortunate to have our basic and material needs met, but still struggling physically, mentally and emotionally? It means we are missing an essential component. We are still forgetting that true, authentic self-care and that self-love helps us get to a better space, where we can show up, perform, provide and love with the very best parts of ourselves because we are nurturing those parts. We forget to prioritize our self. Lost in doing the acts, but not embracing.

We nurture those parts, by prioritizing our health and wellness. The things that make us happy and cozy. The therapy we need to be okay. The book we love. The pet we enjoy playing with. The park we love to walk around. The 15 minute shower where we wash away the day down the drain. Its all apart of a journey to be our best, to reach that self-fulfillment. To be happy.

Its time we step away from the idea that we need to have everything right in our life in order to take care of ourselves. So today and everyday, whatever your self-love practice is: I urge you to do it and then, take it a step further by embracing it.

• What do you think of Maslow's hierarchy and what it means as a reference for human fulfillment?

• How do you feel his hierarchy plays into your self care? Or doesn't?

Share your thoughts below!

Maslow's Hierarchy c/o google images