Time, Space, and Maslow's Heirarchy

Time and space. Everything happens there. But a person needs to be able to own a little of each to be totally healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

For example, what does it do to the spirit and mind to merely sit on the beach in isolation and watch and hear the waves gently rolling in? It literally transforms the spirit and mind and takes it to a peaceful place. At those times we're in touch with the Universe.

If a person doesn't get their own time and space on a regular basis then a person's mental, emotional, and physical health begins to deteriorate.

Unconsciously people crave their own time and space. So much so that they'll force themselves to break through the day to day routine just to get some.

They'll go to the bathroom at work or home and just hang out on a toilet with the door shut.

They'll leave the house and wander the neighborhood or nearby woods. (These are options of choice for a lot of teenagers.)

They'll break up a relationship or get a divorce.

They'll leave a good job.

They'll leave the state or country.

We tend to focus on money as the greatest need we have. I suppose that's true and consistent with Maslow's Hierarchy since, as Maslow pointed out, if we don't have our physiological needs met (food, clothing, and shelter) we don't have much time to think of anything else.

But there's more to it than that.

To realize one's full potential one must have some of their own time and space. Otherwise the person will not have the mental or physical room to think clearly, sort out their direction, and maintain a strong spiritual center. And without those their life is in freefall, like a tiny boat out in middle of the ocean with no rudder, oars, or sail -- not only with no direction but extremely vulnerable to the big waves that life sometimes brings.

Without being able to think clearly, sort out their direction, and maintain a strong spiritual center they won't be able to start any project and stick to it. Someone will always be crowding that out mentally and physically.

The person gets stuck in the mud -- going nowhere.

Maslow puts self actualization, in other words "to realize one's full potential", at the top of the hierarchy, in other words, as attainable only after all other more basic needs are met such as food, clothing, shelter, safety, love/belonging, and esteem.

That's probably true. But once those basic needs are met one won't be able to self actualize without acquiring and maintaining a strong spiritual center, and being able to think privately and clearly.

And that requires, my friends, that they have some of their own time and space.

-Forsyth