Belonging Unlocked: Cracking the Code to Connection in Maslow’s Hierarchy
Back in the 1940s, psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a theory that still holds today: we humans have layers of needs, starting with the basics (like food and water) and working our way up to the good stuff (personal growth and full-on self-actualization). Think of it as leveling up in the game of life—Maslow even visualized it as a pyramid, with each level representing a different set of needs.
Here’s the breakdown:
Physiological Needs: The non-negotiables—food, water, shelter, and sleep. Without these, nothing else matters. It’s survival mode, plain and simple.
Safety Needs: Once you’ve got the basics down, you’re after security. Think physical safety, health, financial stability—essentially, the stuff that helps you feel safe in your world.
Belongingness and Love Needs: Now things get interesting. We start craving connection—love, friendship, community. It’s where we want to feel like we belong, like we’re part of something bigger.
Esteem Needs: Once we’re all connected, we want recognition. This is the phase where you want to feel valued and respected—for who you are and what you do.
Self-Actualization: At the top of the pyramid, it’s all about being the best version of yourself. This is the phase where you embrace your full potential—creativity, personal growth, and that feeling of “I’ve got this.”
While Maslow laid it out like steps, life doesn’t always play by the rules. You might find yourself jumping around the pyramid depending on what’s going on, but the ultimate goal? Thrive, don’t just survive.
The Importance of Belonging
Once we’ve handled the basics (you know, food, water, and a safe place to crash), our next craving is connection. It’s not just a “nice to have”—belonging is a core human need. We’re wired to seek out love, friendships, and community. Without that sense of connection, it’s like walking through life with a permanent “something’s missing” sign hanging over us.
In Maslow’s hierarchy, belonging sits right in the middle of the pyramid, meaning it’s crucial to leveling up to higher needs. When we feel like we belong, like we’re valued and seen, it opens the door to the next step—self-esteem. But if we’re stuck feeling isolated or disconnected? Well, it’s hard to feel confident or successful when you don’t even feel part of something bigger than yourself.
Belonging shows up in so many ways—whether it’s in your closest relationships, your wider social circles, or even just feeling like you’re part of a community that “gets” you. And here’s the thing: we live in a world where we’re more “connected” than ever, but that doesn’t always mean we feel it. Virtual likes and follows don’t replace real, deep connections.
Belonging and Aging: Why It’s Never Too Late to Find Your Tribe
As we age, the need for belonging doesn’t just fade—it evolves. In fact, feeling connected to others might become even more important. The relationships we’ve built over time start to hold even more weight, and new connections? They can bring fresh energy and meaning to life, no matter where we are on the journey.
But here’s the kicker: society often tries to tell us that the older we get, the more we fade into the background. The truth? Belonging is just as important, if not more, as we navigate the later stages of life. Whether it’s staying connected with old friends, forming new communities, or finding meaning in different ways, belonging helps us stay vibrant, engaged, and open to new experiences.
In Maslow’s hierarchy, belonging is right there in the middle—meaning that connection, love, and community are foundational to self-esteem and self-actualization. And who says self-actualization has an age limit? Finding your tribe, even later in life, can be a game changer.
It’s never too late to embrace belonging. Whether through friendships, family, or communities that resonate with your current stage in life, there’s always space to deepen those connections and keep growing. Aging isn’t about fading away—it’s about finding even deeper meaning, love, and connection.
Belonging: A Key to Unlocking the Full Pyramid
When we feel a true sense of belonging—whether in relationships, community, or even within ourselves—it sets the stage for everything else. Belonging is the bridge that takes us from survival to thriving, opening the door to higher needs like self-esteem and self-actualization. The stronger our sense of connection, the easier it becomes to level up and embrace our fullest potential.
But what comes after belonging? Once we’ve found our place in the world, we start looking inward. That’s where the next phase comes in: self-esteem. In the next blog, we’ll dive into how building a strong sense of self-worth helps us rise even higher on the pyramid, and what it means to truly embrace your confidence, value, and contribution to the world.