Maslow had it all wrong. His hierarchy of needs suggest that we must advance through the levels of physiological, safety, social, and ego in order to even consider self-actualization. That is false. Does not even the poorest of the poor contemplate their purpose? Self-actualization is not something restricted to the rich. As a matter of fact, it is our pursuit of the lower four levels that ultimately prevents us actualizing our full self! Many work so hard in search of security and social acceptance that by the time they retire, they have no energy left to contemplate who they could have been.

The higher always includes the lower. If you have a gold membership at a health club, you get all of the privileges of the silver and bronze members. Therefore, we should seek self-actualization first, and everything below it will come. Consider all of the people who have had huge impact on the world - Gandhi, King, Jesus, Mother Theresa, etc. By seeking self-actualization first, everything below came to them. Did you know that today, the Nobel Prize comes with a cash grant of of $1.4 million? The ironic thing is that none of these enlightened beings were seeking a monetary prize, security, or to fulfill their own ego. They all recognized that their eternal reward was spiritual.

May we all flip our pyramids upside down and make certain that we are seeking the highest reward first and not the lowest reward because it is first. The higher always includes the lower.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

Inspired by Sophia, Ernest, & CJ