Discovering the Secret to Happiness Within Ourselves: A Tale Inspired by the Dalai Lama and Maslow's Hierarchy

Discovering the Secret to Happiness Within Ourselves: A Tale Inspired by the Dalai Lama and Maslow's Hierarchy

Dalai Lama once shared a profound secret - "The secret to happiness is contentment". These beautiful words often leave many pondering. If we find contentment in our state of being, appreciating what we have, and accepting where we are, does that mean that we've found the key to happiness?

In life, we should learn to relinquish our relentless pursuit of materialistic or even spiritual enlightenment. Instead, adopting contentment and surrendering to life's ebb and flow can unlock our true joy.

So, you may wonder, how does this align with our goals and desires, our "wants" in life?

What an excellent question! This leads us to the insight of an astute psychologist, Abraham Maslow, and his famous theory on the hierarchy of human "needs". The response to your curiosity lays within the deeper understanding of this theory, and a relatable story I am about to share.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow conceived a innovative theory on our psychological needs that's conveyed often in a pyramid's form, widely referenced in education, motivation, and sales training practices.

At the crux of his theory is the idea that there lies a sequence – a hierarchy - to human "needs". This arrangement of needs must be sequentially satisfied before we can elevate to reach higher ambitions. Before the lofty peaks of our ideals can be scaled, the plateaus beneath must first be conquered.

This hierarchy of needs, interestingly, doesn't jumble around individual to individual, but retains a fixed sequence:

1. Physiological Needs: The essentials - air, water, food, rest, exercise, etc
2. Safety Needs: Secure shelter, job stability, retirement planning, insurance
3. Love and Belonging: Family, friends, romantic partners
4. Self Esteem (1): Social recognition, reputation, dignity
5. Self Esteem (2): Confidence, personal achievements, the ultimate attainment of freedom

The golden rule of this hierarchy is that if we neglect to satisfy the needs at the lower levels, we'll always be running on a deficit, tirelessly striving to fulfill them before we can ascend to reach the dizzying heights of self-actualization and freedom.

Illuminating Maslow's Theory with a Real-life Story

To vividly illustrate Maslow's theory and its implications, allow me to share a story. This is based on true events, though some elements have been altered for the sake of narrative coherence.

Imagine a man whose car overheat and stranded him in the searing 44 degrees Celsius temperatures of Australia's outback, the Barclay Plains to be specific. His intended goal was Darwin, where he looked forward to presenting a lecture on self-defense. This man was a master of his subject and passionately imparted knowledge, not for others' reverence but his love of teaching (Level 4/5).

Initially, he held no worry, allowing his mind to immerse in the landscape's stark beauty. He reveled in reminiscing about loved ones, sinking into slumber with the radio faintly humming in the background. Upon waking, he found loneliness chewed at his edges, wished for companionship (Level 3).

Hours ambled by. With their passing, unease broadened into a realization of potential danger. His planning for safety took precedence (Level 2). Soon, he became acutely aware of his body's agonizing hunger and thirst (Level 1).

As the second day of his unwanted adventure dawned, the thought of finding water engulfed him completely. His body was sustaining on the knowledge of survival, prioritizing the search for water over the food since it could only endure few days without water.

And then, out of nowhere, a sudden ambush! An unseen person clung to his back, choking him, stripping him of air. Water became secondary; his very survival hinged on each desperate gulp of air. But as unpredictably as it began, the attack ended – a practical joke played by his best friend who'd tracked him down after he missed his lecture schedule in Darwin.

The Moral of the Story

This story encapsulates Maslow's theory in action. It showcases a man at the zenith of self-actualization, who’d woven his dreams into reality, abruptly plummeting into a "Needs Deficit" (ND).

This experience highlights the primary truth – the physiological need for air supersedes that of water, and by that extension, everything else. It showcases, we can't aspire to be a respected success (Level 4/5) if we let ourselves slip into a deficit (ND) impacting our essential needs (Level 1, 2, or 3).

This is not to say we can't chase our dream ambitions without meeting all primitive needs such as owning a house or building a family. Instead, it emphasizes that we shouldn't remain trapped in desperation, yearning, and ruthless pursuit of success that may leave lower needs unattended.

In the frenzy of multiplying digital platforms, many of us (myself included) have unknowingly edged out our needs for the essential human connect of friends or family while chasing the elusive success. Remember, it's vital to keep our basic needs attended, enabling us to nurture, share, and realize our dreams.

By sowing the seeds of gratification, we foster contentment and happiness, setting the stage for our dreams to manifest into reality. With such conscious nurturing, navigating our path to higher levels of self-actualization becomes accessible.

So, let's care for our Needs Deficit (ND), believe in our dreams fervently, and allow the rest to unfold in its natural pace!