Our Wellbeing, Our Needs, Our Emotions

The big challenge for all of us is, 'to what do we put our effort and time'?. Will this endeavour this will bring us the results we are seeking and ultimately satisfaction?

What brings us happiness? How do we achieve wellness? What should we be doing all the time? What do we need to do every day or every week? What can we afford to do less frequently?

Maslow gave a useful framework for how humans exist from a psychological perspective which he called the ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. At the bottom of the pyramid are fundamental physiological needs such as oxygen, water, food and shelter which if denied will quickly lead to serious consequences for the individual. Above this sits our safety and health needs, including healthcare provision, employment, finances and security for ourselves and our family whom we are responsible for. These needs are basic to our lives and essential for our wellness.

Maslow describes love and belonging as a very important need which speaks to our place in society, being part of a close relationship or marriage, family or community. The need for esteem implies being able to feel respected and have status including self-respect. This derives from the recognition of the value that one brings to the world.

Maslow identified self-actualisation as the highest need which lies at its core the fulfilment of one’s potential and meaningful deployment of one's talents especially considering as others. They tend to visualise and focus on the big picture and have a sense of purpose with a mission to accomplish. They tend to be less affected by things that are causing stress and can remain serene even in the face of considerable misfortune. They are less affected by what other people’s negative opinions are of them but can find appreciation for the simple things in life.

“Self-actualizing people have for human beings in general a deep feeling of identification, sympathy, and affection despite the occasional anger, impatience, or disgust… because of this they have a genuine desire to help the human race as if they were all members of a single family.”

We all deal with variations on life’s journey. The impact of our situations implies that our emotions will vary depending on our perceptions of what we are experiencing. Our overall well-being is undermined when we encounter anything that compromises our physiological well-being or safety. If our basic needs are met, then the mind focuses on other needs. Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage both your emotions and those of others. It includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.

To create the most productive and positive society, we should all take up the responsibility of bringing out the best in ourselves and others. Kindness and compassion are major drivers that put us in this frame of mind and being. This ultimately implies that we should all be assisting each other in the quest for self-actualisation. Seligman defined positive psychology using the PERMA model as comprising positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment. We can proactively seek to increase our well-being and those of people in our world by seeking to enhance the elements of positive psychology in our lives. The awareness that emotional intelligence brings to the fore is an essential ingredient This is a worthwhile pursuit which should be encouraged by all.