The Hierarchy of Needs
I keep thinking about this thing, even though I haven't taken a psychology course in nine years.
I spoke to a few family members on Sunday, Mother's Day and all. All they talk about is money. How much this one makes, how much that one makes. So and so got bad SAT scores but makes X thousand--it's so unfair! So and so is making plenty of money!
These conversations make me want to stab my eyes out with pens.
Why? Because they don't know anything else exists. They don't know inspiration, creation, aesthetics, art in any form. I'm not talking about going to museums or painting portraits. I'm talking about reading a novel or listening to music or looking at photos on the web. They don't do it. They can't understand it and don't bother trying. Don't know why it exists. Have no ability to learn about anything but buying a house, buying a car.
If all these people care about is money, and they all have enough, whey are they so fucking miserable?
And what if you weren't happy unless you were creating stuff? What then?
I spoke to a few family members on Sunday, Mother's Day and all. All they talk about is money. How much this one makes, how much that one makes. So and so got bad SAT scores but makes X thousand--it's so unfair! So and so is making plenty of money!
These conversations make me want to stab my eyes out with pens.
Why? Because they don't know anything else exists. They don't know inspiration, creation, aesthetics, art in any form. I'm not talking about going to museums or painting portraits. I'm talking about reading a novel or listening to music or looking at photos on the web. They don't do it. They can't understand it and don't bother trying. Don't know why it exists. Have no ability to learn about anything but buying a house, buying a car.
If all these people care about is money, and they all have enough, whey are they so fucking miserable?
And what if you weren't happy unless you were creating stuff? What then?
Labels: nerve-hitting
posted by Rob at 2:54 PM
5 Comments:
OHHHHHHH FUCK YOU ROB, I was just writing about this maybe 1 or 2 weeks ago and now I can't find where.
I've been searching my hard drive and scouring my brain for about ten minutes trying to find what I wrote or remember what it was about, and I can't and it's just making me more frustrated.
Instead, I'll respond to the last line in this post.
Creativity is at the highest level of the pyramid. Why? Because on many fundamental levels, it's a spiritual undertaking.
"With the basic principle that creative expression is the natural direction of life, Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan lead you through a comprehensive twelve-week program to recover your creativity from a variety of blocks, including limiting beliefs, fear, self-sabotage, jealousy, guilt, addictions, and other inhibiting forces, replacing them with artistic confidence and productivity."
Oh yes: I'm recommending you The Artist's Way.
http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Spiritual-Higher-Creativity/dp/1585421464/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-5483113-8872063?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179193233&sr=8-2
You can get this shit for $5 at a used bookstore or Half.com.
What did artists do before Amazon?
Anyway, since one person has already understood this, and I'm not surprised that it was you, I'll sleep a little better tonight.
This post has been removed by the author.
I was attempting to leave a comment without creating my own article long post. Go back and re-read even just that wiki article and all should become more clear. Honestly, it seems as if few people even reach the self actualization stages of the pyramid. Moreover, even when the basic needs are met, an individual often cannot move beyond them if for some reason they still worry constantly about how their basic needs will be met. I suppose that this is sort of a mentalitiy, a block to upward movement along the pyramid. There exists an emotional need to feel safe in your place. Actually, looking back at the pyramid, its right there on the 2nd level. You said that they have everything on the first level, but they probably have a hard time moving beyond the 2nd level and into the 3rd or beyond.
Wow, the exact minute that I clicked onto this thread, the second Mike posted his commentary.
Mike D, thanks. I'll see ya when I'm down there, and we won't go to the College Point Starbucks.
Mike 2, first off, what if the pyramid is bullshit? I should have mentioned this yesterday. I think it's been discredited enough, but it still shows up in every introductory psychology textbook as one of man's attempts at understanding how man thinks, so there must be some merit to it even if it lacks quantified proof. Just think what this theory means to employers: their workers aren't happy unless they're "self-actualizing." What the fuck? I'm going through a 256-page spreadsheet with a blue pen and a red pen, and, sure as fuck, nothing is actualizing or being actualized.
[Maybe our friend, Virtually Actual, can comment here.]
But, Mike 2, you're on to something when you admit that people have a hard time moving above the second level. What if they don't know it's up there or are neurologically hard-wired to be blind to its existence?
Back to the spreadsheet.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home