APRIL 22, 2022
This next week, brother Randy and I are excited to close out this season with our Foundational Band of Brothers, by inviting their fathers to join us. For us men, it goes without saying, “Our father is the most important relationship in a man’s life.” As fathers, we have the responsibility to give our children intentional direction and teach them well. It is our duty to protect them by pointing them in the right direction. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Don’t misunderstand, mothers are an important factor as well and can be said to work in a similar manner with their daughters. That is called “Family.”
The goal for this meeting is to steer our young men (and their fathers) from Self-Actualization to Transformation. (When you look back and help others along the way) That is what we call “intentional leadership.” Brother Randy and I are not counselors. Our heritage is, that we are just “Old” teachers with a lot of life’s experiences, learning right along with the rest of the group. In order to understand and grow, we need to study Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” which is a motivational theory in positive psychology comprising a tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. Maslow stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs and that some needs take precedence over others. Our most basic need is for “Physical Survival” which will be the first thing that motivates our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled, the next level up is what motivates us and so on.
Maslow’s pyramid can be divided into “Deficiency Needs” and “Growth Needs.” The first four levels are often referred to as deficiency (D-needs which include; physiological needs; safety needs; belonging and love needs; followed by esteem needs). The top level is known as growth or BEING needs. (The B-needs include; cognitive needs; aesthetic needs; self-actualization and transcendence.) The deficiency needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. The need to fulfill such needs will become the motivation the longer they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes hungry, the more hungry they will become. Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by a failure to meet lower level needs. Life experiences; like divorce, an injury or illness, loss of a job or a loved one, may cause an individual to fluctuate between levels. Therefore, not everyone will move through on a linear level but may move back and forth between different types of needs.
If interested, follow us at elevatorguy.net as we continue our efforts at “Planting Positive Seeds” in the lives of others. Check out Maslow’s theory for yourself to see where you stand on the pyramid to evaluate whether you are “Growing,” “Maintaining,” or just anxious and depressed, with the fear of moving to the next level because of the obstacles in your way. Make your obstacle, your way. We hope you choose to accept where you are today and work to grow your mind, body, and spirit (and heart) to be the best version of yourself, no matter what season of your life.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the day: “What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.” Abraham Maslow