Move over, Maslow
By Heather Bowers
IV Leader Staff
If you have had a psychology class, then more than likely, you know about Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, or in simple terms, the things we need to make us happy. Well, I haven’t found his steps to be very satisfying, so I have made my own.
Welcome to the “Higher-archy of Needs.” or everything I think we need to be happy. It’s pretty simple: there are 10 steps and they need to be followed in order.
Once one is fully completed, you can move up to the next one. But don’t pass GO or anything like that. I’m not responsible for what might happen then.
10. Attitude All too often, what we expect is what we get. The sociologist Robert K. Merton developed the theory of the “self-fulfilling prophecy” in the 20th century. A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that in being made causes itself to become true. For decades and throughout studies, mice and children have lived up to their prophecies, now it’s our turn. Our optimistic attitude allows us to realize how we really can accomplish the things we never imagined even partaking in before. Attitude=energy. Don’t downplay the use of your energy. If it is directed into the proper channels, it can take you farther than you ever thought you’d go. Expect only the best of yourself—you’ll be awfully surprised with what you find.
9. Courage We’re all afraid of something—go ahead and admit it, I won’t tell anyone. And we all know in the back of our minds that most of our fears are irrational. Wasn’t it FDR who said all we had to fear was fear itself? Anyways, the second step to conquer on this ladder toward actualization is courage. Not the lame, over hyped, Nike ad kind of courage, but the kind of courage we all have buried inside ourselves that usually only appears during moments of adrenaline rushes or extreme emergencies. One of my favorite historical figures was Robert F. Kennedy. After the assassination of his brother, (yes, that’s JFK) he went through the most powerful transition of his life — from the shadows to the stage, and he always had the fear, “What if I lose?” However, he triumphed over his insecurities and fears and eventually would run for President. He had found real courage. Unlike Gatorade commercials, where the brave (and usually good) team always wins, life isn’t the same. Courage is knowing you will make mistakes, but doing it anyway. Besides, who said winning was everything?
8. Character Your character determines who you are—who you are determines what you see—what you see determines what you do. As Shakespeare said, “Action is eloquence.” Our character is the brainchild that determines when we will throw away our crutches and when we will allow them to cripple us (thinks of Forrest Gump and his leg braces). Our character motivates us. Like Newton’s Law of Motion: “An object in motion stays in motion.” The object: us. Don’t underestimate the power behind your character—it’s what you will be remembered by.