With the holidays upon us, we become more aware of the positive and negative emotions in all of us. Holidays can be joyous for some and miserable for others.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can present a different perspective of how we can care for ourselves and others during life’s challenging times.
When physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization needs are not met, the impacts can be negative and unique.
Sometimes a behavior outburst results when a basic need is not met. Think of the old Snickers slogan, “you’re not you when you’re hungry.” Someone who is hungry, tired, or has other unmet basic needs may display behaviors that could be resolved quickly through exploration and meeting those needs.
Safety and security are the next level of needs once our basic needs are met. Behaviors, shutting down, avoidance, inability to focus, and hyperactivity can be signs that someone doesn’t feel safe or secure. There are situations when a little time, empathy, and engagement can allow someone to feel safe enough to discuss their concerns. We all process thoughts differently, and sometimes a little space and time can go a long way as well.
Belonging and love builds connection, which is such an essential part of being human. The absence of connection can distort our perceptions of humankind, meaning those without connections and supportive people in their lives may find negative ways to protect themselves. This can mimic negative behaviors that will likely isolate and worsen connections with others.
Building self-esteem begins with our very first interactions with others and continues throughout our existence. People who have low self-esteem may show it in ways such as ridiculing others or searching for negatives/flaws in others instead of looking at positive traits and building others up. This may happen as a way of deflection for our own insecurities. When self-actualization/self-awareness is used, we can take a deeper look into what creates conflict within ourselves and how it impacts our communication and relationships with others.
By honing in on awareness of our own biases, and biases of others, we can increase our ability to communicate more effectively and understand the needs of others. When our physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization needs are met, we can meet our full potential and seek the full potential of others through guidance and support; and this can be a great place to be!
Local support and resources can be helpful, especially during the holidays. Codington Connects provides this and more, check out their website.