A Look At Our Hierarchy Of Values
Above, we have Maslow’s Motivational Model. I have studied it for all its many purposes, and I have since been able to relate this entire model, to what we call a Hierarchy Of Values. Both are very similar. I wanted to share my particular take on them. It’s something that anyone can live by, but it can be extremely important for those of us on roads to recovery, both with recovery from addictions, and recovery of unstable mental health issues.
A solid Hierarchy of Values and or Needs is a model of a life that many of us have well established, but, it quickly gets lost when we fall victim to ourselves, whether it be something like drug addiction, or mental health issues that’s path turns unstable, and untreated. Once a road of sobriety is well established, it is good to just keep our Hierarchy of Values fresh in our hearts and minds, as we work hard to get back on track and stay on track.
Once we are back established with the healing of physical and mental health issues, we begin to touch on Biological and Physiological Needs again. Though they seem pretty basic, they really do get off track easily. Those needs are some of the main needs of basic human existence, food, water, sleep, a roof over our heads, warmth when it’s cold, and what have you. We need to focus on getting those back organized, or the road back to health may get easily sidetracked.
Safety needs are then what comes next, and are also as basic, yet just as needed as Biological and Physiological Needs. It’s things like our safety and security. It’s assuring that our stability is again met, and kept. It’s even simple things like protection like a lock on our front doors. It’s a following of rules, no more lawbreaking, the days of buying illegal drugs (felonies) must remain behind us.
A belongingness and love needs are next, on the Hierarchy of Values. It is the exact things that you would probably be able to decipher, from just the name of that category. As we work to mend relationships, this part can be difficult, but it is extremely important to work on. Regaining trust is a big part of how successful this will be. This is about relationships. All kinds. Romantic, family, friends, co-workers, etc etc. If you aren’t in a romantic relationship, solid advice would tell you to give yourself a year, at the absolute minimum, before pursuing anything like that. Trying to find a new one, will most likely, NOT be in your best interest, or really benefit you in any way.
As needy as this time maybe, you’re not gonna get those needs properly filled by finding a new lover somewhere.
That’s not just my opinion. It’s expert advice that’s been validated for decades.
That last category, glides right into the next one, as they are both pretty similar, the next one being Esteem Needs, referring to healthy ways to establish decent self-esteem once again. This can be things like working hard again to achieve things, the type of things that we fouled up for years in our addictions.
Once again conquering those achievements will be the stepping stones to a once again built up self-love and esteem. With that will also come responsibility, and then, hopefully, a reputation that is once again one of pride.
Cognitive needs will then come, and be the next item to face. The good thing about this is, those cognitive needs won’t be started from scratch here. As we have gone through those first handfuls of categories, cognitive needs have actually already begun to be built. A time for self-awareness comes with this one. Looking back so far, at our new knowledge gained, and our old knowledge awakened.
This is an important time to realize that no matter how good therapy and psychiatric medications are working, this is not the time to cut things off assuming that life is perfect. We must stay engaged consistently in treatment.
Aesthetic needs come and refer to things like finding the beauty in things, others, and in ourselves. Not to be mistaken for superficial beauty.
Finding beauty goes way beyond looks, as looks never stay the same for long. Beauty can be in minds and hearts, and the most beautiful people in my world are just that, the ones whose hearts are an immense size. With that, also comes an appreciation for balance as well, and a realization of just how fast, balance can be lost.
Self-actualization is the next and a VERY important category for us. Now that our heads are back right, (as of right as they can be) we begin to realize our own potential, and what it is, we have the potential to be or do. Our talents peak back out at us, and we are then at a point to take risks, put ourselves out there, be vulnerable, and show the world what we can do, and show them that now, we can do it. It is time to fulfill that part of us.
From that category, we dive right into the last part of the Hierarchy and that is called Transcendence. What that means is, from our self-actualization, we are at a time, where we can consider helping others from their own actualization.
It all contributes greatly to a time for us to share our gift, with others who have traveled the same road. We are all on the same road after all. We just all happen to be at different spots on the road.
Whether it’s called a Motivational Model by Maslow, or a Hierarchy of Values of Sobriety, it is a highway traveled immensely by countless numbers, all living to obtain the same goals in life, hoping to find feelings of stability, and peace.
Thank you for reading,
MICHAEL PATANELLA
