This is how Maslow’s pyramid works, the ideal strategy for achieving goals
In psychology There are theories ranging from papers to everyday life. Maslow’s pyramid is one of them. It’s not perfect nor does it explain everything, but it’s still a very useful map for understand what a person needs to be healthy.
What you suggest Abraham Maslowa reference for humanistic psychology, is quite intuitive. Before you think about personal growth, dream projects, or “being the best version,” You need to master the basics. Without food, rest, shelter, or security, it is difficult for anyone to motivate themselves to seek recognition, deep connections, or self-actualization.
From this idea, Maslow Human needs are divided into five levels, from the most basic to the most complex. This hierarchy is usually represented as a pyramid and, when used wisely, can serve as a practical strategy for checking where each person is and what should be a priority.
What is Maslow’s pyramid and what is it used for?
The Maslow’s pyramid is a visual representation of the motivation theory that this psychologist proposed in his 1943 article “A Theory of Human Motivation” and later developed in the book “Motivation and Personality”. The central idea is this People move driven by inner needsnot just due to external stimuli, and that these needs are organized in a hierarchy.
This is Maslow’s pyramid.Maslow distinguishes between “deficit” needs (the first four) and needs for “being development” (self-actualization). The first relate to deficits, because if they are not addressed, discomfort, anxiety or a feeling of emptiness appear.. The latter are aimed at personal growth and are not about “filling a gap”, but rather about developing your own potential.
If you understand the pyramid, you can see why you sometimes get blocked.why an “important” goal doesn’t excite you or why it’s difficult to be satisfied even when everything seems to be fine from the outside.
It is also a framework widely used in business, human resources, education and marketing to understand what motivates people and how to better support them. This will help you understand how psychological aspects are used in various areas beyond personal development.
The 5 levels of Maslow’s pyramid, explained with examples
Maslow He organized human needs into five levels, one on top of the other. It’s not that every level has to be perfect to move on to the next, but they do need to be covered to some extent.
1. Physiological/basic needs
They are the most basic and vital for the Survive: breathe, drink water, eat, sleep, seek shelter. Without this, the remaining goals take a back seat.
Improvement, self-realization, one of the keys to Maslow’s pyramid. Photo: AI (ChatGPT)2. Security needs
When the biological is covered, the need arises to live with a certain stability and protection: physical, economic, HealthLiving, predictable environment. These needs cannot be thought about until the first level needs are resolved or you are clear about them.
3. Membership Requirements
When essentials and security are somewhat taken care of, the desire to belong, to connect and to be part of something comes into play: friends, partners, family, groups, community. These connections are essential for people and their mental health.
4. Need for recognition
This level is related to self-esteem and personal, self-referential and social value. Includes respect, prestige, status, achievements, autonomy and Feeling of competition.
Need for growth. Photo: AI (ChatGPT)This level of the pyramid marslow For example, it indicates an artist who wants to show his work and receive recognition. An employee who works hard to achieve a promotion or a more visible role.
5. Needs for self-actualization
The top priority is the search for meaning and personal growth: developing talents, living according to one’s own values, contributing something to the world, exploiting potential.
To understand what it means marslow A clear example of “self-actualization needs” is: someone leaving a job that doesn’t represent them to pursue something that aligns with their values. People who engage in solidarity, creative or spiritual projects to connect with a deeper purpose.
Humor promotes a positive and optimistic attitude, the key to emotional well-being. Photo Shutterstock.When lower level needs are not met, feelings of deficiency, fear, low self-esteem, or disorientation often arise. And when higher education is postponed indefinitely, many people feel like “something is missing,” even if they have the basics.
How to Use Maslow’s Pyramid as a Strategy to Achieve Goals
Read as practical tool, The pyramid works almost like a personal checklist for ordering priorities. Instead of starting with the “best” goal, let’s start with what supports everything else.
A first step is to check the basics: rest, health, nutrition, housing, minimum income. If there are big gaps there, any ambitious goal will come with a lot more pressure and wear and tear. Sometimes the best strategy for “growth” is to stabilize first.
The second step is to look at emotional and material security: supportive bonds, a stable environment, some economic predictability. That doesn’t mean everything is sorted out, but it does mean having a ground that allows you to plan without living in survival mode and being able to plan for the medium term.
Higher up are the goals that typically appear in year-end plans: improving relationships, getting excited about new projects, seeking professional recognition, studying something upcoming, changing direction. Using the pyramid forces you to ask yourself, “What level am I stuck at?” and “What do I need to affirm before I take the next step?”
As a quick guide, the pyramid can be translated as follows:
- Physiological basis: Sleep better, eat better, check your health.
- Security: Organize finances, look for more stable jobs, improve the living environment.
- Belonging: Strengthen friendships, ask for help, build support networks.
- recognition: Set concrete performance and learning goals, work on self-esteem.
- Self-realization: Connect with values, purposes and projects that give meaning.