Hierarchy of Needs

When it comes to motivation there is one theory that always stands out and that is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. His theory has five stages an individual must go through in order to reach self actualization. These stages include; physiological (food/water), safety (home), love and belonging and finally self esteem. Maslow believed that once you have gone successful through all these stages you have self actualized. The definition of self actualization is " the desire for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for the individual to become actualized in what he potentially is". This relates well to motivation since most individuals are motivated to reach the best of their abilities or their peak. As an example someone who works for a corporation obviously wants to move up within the company and reach the highest position possible. However before they achieve such position they must secure all the stages below. By this I mean is that the individual must secure a source of food, a safe home, a good support system and an overall respect for themselves before they can achieve there highest potential. Personally I think this theory best describes the idea of motivation because many people are motivated to achieve their fullest potential or their true happiness. That an individual will feel self actualized once they have achieved all goals in life and feel that there lifestyle is making a difference in the world. In order to achieve this status however the individual must continually motivate themselves and set resources aside in order to achieve all the stages below. Even though this is a lengthy process I believe this is the best representation of personal success and overall motivation stages. Each of use is motivated by needs. Our basic needs are inborn having evolved over years and Maslow's hierarchy of needs helps explain how these needs motivate us all. In conclusion everyone goes thorough the stages at there own pace but in order to go from stage to stage there has to be motivation.