Am I overly focused on the higher-level needs while neglecting the fundamental ones, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Good morning, I am Shu Ya Qingzheng, and I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with you. I hope that by doing so, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your motivations.

01. Psychologist Maslow further divided human needs into five categories according to the hierarchy of needs theory: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs, from lower to higher levels.

It may be overly focused on higher moral and emotional considerations, with insufficient attention paid to basic economic and security needs.

This illustrates that your social function is a significant aspect of your role.

From your perspective, you may have experienced being the eldest child in the family and having been asked for or given too many expectations. Alternatively, you may have set high goals for yourself and been very demanding.

However, the growth model that has always been in place has allowed you to choose to treat yourself in a consistent manner, which will help to avoid any conflict and depletion.

At this juncture, it would be beneficial to gain an understanding of self-awareness and psychology. This will necessitate a high level of self-awareness on your part.

02. According to the personality structure theory of the renowned psychologist Sigmund Freud, the personality is composed of three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.

The id is driven by the principle of pleasure, which ignores social morality and external behavioral norms. Its sole objective is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The goal of the id is to seek personal comfort, survival, and reproduction. It is unconscious and not controlled by the individual.

The id in all people acts according to the pleasure principle, disregarding social norms and external behavioral standards. Its sole objective is to obtain pleasure and avoid pain. The aim of the id is to seek personal comfort, survival, and reproduction. It is unconscious and not perceived by the individual.

The superego represents ideals and is formed during an individual's growth process through internalizing moral norms and the values of social and cultural environments. Its main function is to supervise, criticize, and restrain one's own behavior. The superego is characterized by the pursuit of perfection, making it similar to the id in its unrealistic nature. Additionally, the majority of the superego is unconscious. The superego guides the self in satisfying the id in a socially acceptable way, and its actions are guided by "moral principles."

To illustrate this concept with a simple metaphor, the ego can be likened to a horse that charges recklessly and acts independently, while the superego can be seen as a traffic cop that enforces rules and awards or punishes accordingly.

To complete the task and reach the desired outcome of personal change, it is essential to have a reliable guide who can navigate the complexities and ensure the desired results are achieved.

The superego and the id are in a constant state of conflict. To resolve this, the ego must make adjustments. The ego serves as the coach in this process.

Nourishing and enriching the self can facilitate the development of a true and complete self.

It is recommended that you seek the assistance of a qualified psychological counselor to avoid the potential for repeated changes due to ongoing conflicts between the two.

Naturally, you can also achieve your breakthrough and growth by taking courageous and determined action.

As Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, once said, "The best way to live your life is to change what you can, and accept what you cannot."

Accept yourself as you are in the past and the present, and acknowledge your courage in attempting to change in the present.

Embracing change is essential for a more valuable life and to meet a better version of yourself. Prioritize learning to truly love, accept, and care for yourself. Only by doing so can you become a harmonious and comfortable version of yourself.

04. Make investments in your physical and mental well-being, embrace self-reinvention, and embrace change. This is also the most effective way to love yourself.

It is recommended that you read some psychology books on personal growth, such as The Bond of Maternal Love, Change Begins with the Heart, and Life Script. Make use of the psychological knowledge you gain as you embark on your new journey.

The world and I extend our best wishes to you and are committed to providing assistance.

Hello, landlord!

I know it can be tricky to understand what the poster means by "excessive" and "neglect." I think the best way to help them is to ask them three simple questions.

?[1] Could focusing on high-level needs be another way to express the need for security?

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is really interesting! It suggests that the lower a need is on the list, the more powerful it is. This makes sense when you think about it – our basic needs like eating, drinking, sleeping and having sex are pretty important for survival! But it also suggests that having a sense of security is the most basic need of all. And it's easy to see why – it's something we all need to feel safe and secure in order to live a happy and healthy life!

The need for a sense of security is not only about life and death, but it's something we all need throughout our lives. I believe it's the most basic and deepest need we have. In today's modern society, where we all have different roles and work together, people's need for security can get hidden and presented in different forms. That's why I asked the question about whether it's an alternative way of expressing the need for security.

In real life, we only encounter dangerous situations that directly threaten our personal safety, such as being violently attacked or killed, which is pretty unlikely. So most of the time, the source of our fear and anxiety is not a situation that directly threatens our lives, but a variety of hidden threats to our survival.

Let's take a simple example. If you're afraid of your boss, it's likely that you're also afraid of damaging your relationships with others. And if you're afraid of damaging those relationships, it's likely that you're also afraid of your career development being hindered. And if you're afraid of your career development being hindered, it's likely that you're also afraid of losing financial support. And so on, and so on. If you continue to reason like this, you will definitely arrive at the lowest level of needs – food, drink, defecation, sleep. And from a different perspective, you'll find that you're also afraid of a lack of security.

It can be tricky to spot these hidden threats, and they don't always show themselves right away. It's not always easy to know whether a fear is just a passing fancy or something deeper. Take, for instance, the fear of being fired if you offend your boss. It's unlikely that it will definitely happen, but it's still a valid concern.

So, the ways we show we need security in life are different for everyone. It's not always easy to spot. In this sense, the host's concern about moral justice and emotions is also closely linked to the need for security. A society that lacks morality, justice, and emotional indifference will face more dangers in survival. So, these concerns might also be an expression of the need for security, but this way of showing them is quite rare and more "disguised." That's why I use the word "alternative," which doesn't have any negative connotations.

Of course, this is only one possible answer to the question of "why is this so?" and whether it is suitable for the situation of the original poster needs to be explored further. For example, the original poster can ask themselves some questions: Are you not emotionally sensitive to and do you not feel pain about the immorality and injustice of others around you?

I'm curious, did you grow up with moral strictures? I'd love to know how you feel when you pay attention to these needs.

And so on!

[2] I'm wondering if your natural temperament is such that you pay attention to high-level needs?

Another possible answer is that the host's preference for focusing on needs stems from his natural temperament. I once heard a teacher in an online course say that people with a naturally depressive temperament love to pursue the truth, and if they are not allowed to do so, they will have a hard time. Moreover, they often have a strong tendency towards perfectionism.

I remember being really surprised when I was listening to the class because it turned out that the host and I actually had the same confusion! We were both worried and suffering from it, and we tried really hard to fix ourselves.

Once I understood this, I felt a little better about myself. I realized that it's not easy to change who you are, and your personality is mostly determined by your genes.

I totally get that we're all born different, and that's what makes our society so great! We all have our own special value, and there's no need to follow one single standard, like being rich and powerful, to live a good life. We should all just find our own way of living and believe that our unique life experience will also bring unique happiness!

I'd love to know if you think it's possible that the host is depressed. What is it like for you when you focus on topics like moral justice and emotions?

I'd love to know if you're drawn to and excited by these topics. And are you happy to do this without pay, without bonuses, and without any practical benefits in your life?

Do you sometimes prefer to be alone and read when friends invite you to a nice meal? If so, you might just be a born introvert! There's nothing wrong with that.

If you're curious about your natural temperament, you can try a personality test. You might discover that you're also a depressive temperament, which is totally normal! I believe that moral justice and emotional pursuit are both paths to truth. This high-level demand could be called "love of truth" or "love of wisdom." People who love truth and wisdom tend to have a rich spiritual world and a full life of spiritual experiences. I find this trait really appealing, and I think such people are fascinating and admirable.

[3] Could it be that focusing on high-level needs is a way of avoiding reality?

I'm not sure if the "excess" and "neglect" the original poster mentioned have already caused them to have survival problems that are difficult to deal with. I see that the original poster used the qualifier "basic" in relation to property, safety, and career security. Does this mean that the original poster is living in a dangerous building, lacks financial resources, and cannot hold down a job?

If not, if the host is just different from the people around him in terms of focus, then I think the host can consider not making any adjustments. As mentioned above, everyone has their own way of living, and that's totally okay! If you can devote a lot of time and energy to what you like, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, it is presumed that the host's basic lower-level needs should have been met.

After all, there's no set standard for whether your basic needs are being met. Some people don't have a lot of desire for material things, so just follow your heart and live your life at ease. Since ancient times, there have been people who "drink from a dipper, eat from a bamboo container, and live in a humble room, but never change their joy"!

If this is the case, though, the owner might need to spend some time and effort figuring out whether his excessive focus on high-level needs is an escape from reality. We all know that the pressure to survive is great, and there are many difficulties to encounter in real life. It can be quite difficult to maintain a good balance in all aspects, and we could all do with a bit of support from many abilities sometimes!

If you don't feel like you have what it takes to handle pressure and difficulties, it can feel like the easiest thing in the world to avoid them. And the more you lack the ability to cope, the more you'll find yourself avoiding. But avoiding will lead to a negative cycle: not wanting to cope and not coping leads to not being able to cope and not coping, and not being able to cope and not coping leads to even less wanting to cope and not coping... I did see a saying in a video that really resonated with me: the reason for caring about grand issues is the powerlessness in dealing with real issues.

But we all know that coping skills can't be developed overnight. Sometimes it may not be a problem of ability but of motivation. For example, if you feel that many jobs are meaningless and uninteresting, the question is how to develop motivation. Regardless of the problem, it takes a considerable amount of time and effort to overcome oneself and gradually change the situation.

It's important to take the time to really understand yourself and your situation. This will help you to make the best decisions for your future. If you're facing challenges at work, it might be helpful to think about whether there's a mismatch between your values and the workplace, or if your strengths and abilities aren't being fully utilized.

Could it be that you lack interpersonal skills, or maybe you just need to brush up on your professional skills? We can help you figure it out!

Once you've identified the specific reason, you can start setting goals and plans for self-improvement. You'll find that your focus naturally shifts towards property safety and career security.

Finally, the host can also consider a career that caters to his needs at multiple levels, such as a school or research institute with a major in social sciences or a related field. The work itself focuses on the topics that the host is concerned about. Perhaps such a position can help the host find the right balance more easily?

I love you too, world! ?

Good afternoon.

You may feel that you are focusing too much on the upper level of needs and not enough on the lower level. I previously wrote an article on a similar topic and suggested that our revolutionaries and moral role models may have a higher need for spiritual beliefs than for basic living needs.

For instance, our revolutionary party members, despite the challenging circumstances, have made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of communism.

For instance, Principal Zhang Guimei, who is experiencing discomfort and dealing with a number of health challenges, continues to dedicate her entire being to her students. During the recent winter break, she was assisted in visiting her students' homes, as she had promised them.

It is possible that some individuals may have prioritised the pursuit of the highest level of needs before satisfying their most basic needs, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.

I gently suggest that Maslow's theory of needs may not fully align with the Chinese experience. Had Maslow visited China during the era of our revolutionary party members, he might have had some reservations about the applicability of his theory in this context.

It would be inaccurate to suggest that Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is incorrect. Rather, it can be seen as aligning with the majority of people's aspirations. However, there will always be individuals who deviate from this pattern and whose needs cannot be fully addressed by the theory.

The ancient Chinese also had a good saying: "When you're full and warm, you think about lust." This suggests that for most people, satisfying basic physical and safety needs may still be a primary focus. One reason why ancient China's Song Dynasty was a powerful country at the time could be that people had access to food and clothing, and had extra energy to think about other things.

It is evident that while the majority of individuals are preoccupied with acquiring material possessions, there are those who place a greater emphasis on spiritual growth and fulfillment. Moreover, Maslow posited that the hierarchy of needs theory does not necessarily have to be applied in a linear manner.

I believe it's all normal, and there's no right or wrong.

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider how your specific situation might relate to this broader issue. It seems that you have a strong focus on spiritual needs, which could potentially be a defense mechanism. When we have lofty ideals, it allows us to stand firm in the face of external pressures.

Those who achieve great things tend to focus on the most important matters.

Given the limited information you have provided, I can only offer a tentative observation. It seems likely that you are male, relatively young, unmarried, and not particularly successful in the conventional sense. You appear to have a distinctive value system and a generally positive outlook on life.

In reality, however, he may face some challenges in navigating interpersonal relationships, integrating into society, and achieving financial independence.

This may be a defense against feelings of inferiority, which could be accompanied by an underlying belief that one is unable to succeed. The strategy you have developed is to say that it's okay to avoid it or to be aloof.

In essence, he came to the conclusion that he was unable to proceed.

In terms of your problem, it might be helpful to consider the possibility that what you may need is the ability to conform to the world. This is a relatively mature defense mechanism called sublimation.

For example, surveys in Europe and the United States have indicated that the instinctive desire to set fire to things is particularly prevalent among firefighters. Consequently, many have chosen to pursue this line of work, which allows them to engage with fire in a controlled setting, support their families, avoid incarceration, and even earn some recognition.

In the free choice of employment in the West, some people investigated the instinct of firefighters and found that the desire to set fire is the strongest. This led him to pursue a career where he can play with fire all day long. It allows him to avoid going to jail, while also supporting his family and gaining honor.

This kind of harmony with reality has the potential to satisfy both instinctual and superego needs.

For you, the most you can do is to live each day down-to-earth and take responsibility for your own actions. It would also be beneficial to consider your spiritual needs and try to satisfy them as much as possible.

I am often both Buddhist and pessimistic, and I try to be an occasionally positive and motivated counselor. I love the world and I love you.