As human beings, we all have certain basic needs that have to be met in order to live happy and fulfilling lives. One of the most important needs that we have is the need to feel safe and loved. Without these fundamental needs being met, it can be difficult to move up on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs towards self-actualization.
On my journey, after cancer, I realized I was living a marginalized existence after being a very high achiever. I was basically told what I was and was not allowed to do. Cancer and emotional abuse, followed by divorcing a true narcissist stole my confidence and my sense of safety and security from me. Though that all started a few years ago, I am still emotionally recovering and the journey back to a confident me continues to have its ups and downs.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that explains how human beings prioritize their needs in order to achieve their full potential. According to Maslow, there are five levels of human needs, with physiological needs being the most basic and self-actualization being the highest level.
In order to move towards self-actualization, we must first ensure that our basic needs are met. This includes our emotional needs being met including the need to feel safe and loved. Without satisfying these, we cannot focus on achieving our full potential.
So, how can we establish emotional safety and security in our lives? One way is through affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that we repeat to ourselves in order to change our thoughts and beliefs. (Check out my blog about self-acceptance here.) By repeating affirmations such as “I am safe” and “I am loved,” we can begin to change our internal dialogue and feel more secure in our lives.
Another way to establish emotional safety and security is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and accepting our thoughts and feelings without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to be more aware of our emotions and respond to them in a healthy way. The Sanskrit mantra “so hum” literally translates to “I am” and is a great one to use during meditation for this work. To use this as your mental anchor, simply repeat “so hum” again and again with your inhale and exhale.
In conclusion, feeling safe and loved is essential to our wellbeing and our ability to move up on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs towards self-actualization. By using affirmations and practicing mindfulness, we can establish or reconnect to emotional safety and security in our lives. We can then step up our game in the direction of achieving our full potential. Remember, you are safe and loved, and you can achieve anything you set your mind to.