I’ve always hated Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I believe that I have spent moments in self-actualization (enlightenment/transcendence) even when my underlying needs haven’t been adequately fulfilled. For instance, I’ve felt transendence while being completely exhausted and hungry, self-actualized when I wasn’t safe at all. Life is lived in moments, not in exact needs-fulfilled stages, and his pyramid has always made me feel lesser as an individual AND definitely incompetent as a provider / parent. His pyramid also resembles a pyramid scheme where gurus and Gods lived at the top and dictated to everyone below them how to get their needs fulfilled (or not). I am not good with authorities, especially spiritual ones, mainly because I believe that we as individuals represent all the qualities necessary to lead ourselves and be in community together. Needs being fulfilled by community also seems to be a missing piece to his pyramid puzzle and I believe this is directly supported and fueled our Western point of view when it comes to individualism.
Enough – I want to drop this into the world…
In order to move beyond the step system of the Maslow’s pyramid, I am proposing The Circus Tent of Being. A circus tent is rarely, if ever raised by one person. It is a group effort AND everyone is responsible for their share of the work. The Circus Tent recognizes that alone, we have (should have) the ability to have all of these needs enhanced and supported by internal drive and external forces. We are not alone. These external forces come from the groups, teams, and communities that we are a part of. As individuals, we get to understand our baseline needs and determine what it is we need from external resources. If our external environments are unable to support our wanted / needed being, our ability to pitch our biggest tent will be constrained. Even if we are constrained by our tent size, we can still find fulfillment throughout our spectrum of needs. It is important to align ourselves with individuals and groups that desire AND are capable to raising incredible Circus Tents together…because when we’ve got GIANT circus tents of people feeling fulfilled, seen, heard, cared for, respected, loved, and cherished…the party inside the test is incredible.
Let’s pitch some Circus Tents and get rid of Maslow’s Pyramid.
Hello, I am Shelton. 