Clean Maslow shape

[Corrie van Wijk]

Maslow introduced the concept of a hierarchy of needs. This inspired me to create my own -- clean -- Maslow 'shape', which is different from his pyramid.

I'm curious how this works with anybody else, so if you like to try this, find your own words or symbols for the following needs, decide which belong to which, categorize them if you like and place them in a clean shape:

Physical: air, food, light, movement, protection, rest, room, sexual expression, shelter, touch, water.
Emotional: acceptance, acknowledgement, care, closeness, compassion, confidence, connection, reassurance, respect, safety, sharing, support, tenderness, warmth.
Play: humour, playing, pleasure.
Individuality: authenticity, creativity, expression of self, independence, integrity.
Spiritual connection: beauty, clearness, contemplation, fulfilment, harmony, inner peace, inspiration, learning/growing, meaning, order, unity, wholeness.
Celebrating: celebrating life, mourning.

[Corrie van Wijk]

Now that you made your own Maslow shape, think about what it would be like if you (should) get what you 'desire, want, need, or would-like: a new situation, state or behaviour' (Ned), or don't get it, or get want you don't desire, etc. or don't get what you don't desire (whatever!).

[Angela]

What an interesting idea!

I've just tried this and I got the shape of me - like a cardboad-cut-out. The base-level physical needs are the very outer edge of me, and as I go higher up Maslow's triangle, I represent them as deeper layers inside myself. When I thought about what happens when each of these needs are meet or otherwise, what came to mind was that the outermost layer would be the one most visible / noticable to others. The 'higher' needs would be deeper inside and therefore hidden. If these needs were unmet, eventually I would become 'hollow'...

Thanks Corrie for an interesting question - I can think of applications of this in a copororate workshop environment on Motivation skills for managers?

You've prompted me to remember a similar type of clean question for time management I once used with great effect - I'll post it as a separate thread

[Corrie van Wijk]

Hi Angela,

Now that you've got your own Maslow shape and since it is a body-shape, why don't you make it a pronounscape: where's your 'I', 'me', 'myself' and 'you' (=If somebody else calls you 'you', whereabouts does it go into your body?), etc. Are they inside or outside your body?

Have a nice journey,

Corrie