My Guinea Pig Henrietta and I explore the implications of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and how Neurodivergents are getting stuck at each level of the pyramid
This article makes me feel seen and a little less alone. I truly wish there were more people in my area, especially with ADHD kids as well as adhd themselves. It would be so nice to connect. The circadian rhythm is so accurate- it is 3:25 am as I am writing this.
I'm so glad you and Henrietta added in some humour because the pyramid feels like an unscalable vertical barrier at times. Great article and superbly written.
Great read! I feel like striving to become the best version of ourselves is enough even if we can't meet Neurotypical levels of self actualisation. Maybe we just need to lower the bar for ourselves and self actualisation looks different for us.
Anyway Maslow said only 1% of adults have actually self-actualized so seems the vast majority of Neurotypicals don't reach it either. It seems a very high bar!
Thank you, Jeanie. Self-actualisation is hard but not impossible for those of us with ASD and ADHD. I'm 55 and currently under assessment for AuDHD. While I have very little hope of gaining the kind of support I need from the supposed medical experts, there is so much community and so many resources online these days. Also, now that I know what I'm dealing with, I'm like a dog with a bone. I WILL find my soul tribe and we WILL find ways of supporting each other in thriving and sharing our gifts with the world. (I love guinea pigs, by the way!!)
hello Jeanie… um, i am glad I came across your article… i have discussed the need to raise awareness about the potential of neurodivergents with various ai.s… i dunno, neurodivergency is incredibly broad so its hard for me to get a pulse on what associate with neurodivergency as there are the physical differences (emphasized via sensory issues, etc.) all the way to less noticeable/problmatic variants (differences in cognitive functions and priorites and values that often run counter to how society is developed). In the latter case, neurodivergency potential will not be acutalized until neurodivergents (1) recognize their potential and how they fit into the unfolding paradigm of the world (2) they begin to build parallel ecosystems (technologies, networks, resources) that help them function more effectively so their gifts can shine (otherwise it just pure.. struggling against a system not designed for you… )
I’m so glad I happened upon your article! Your humor was just the right touch of lightness to make the subject understandable and more palatable. You’ve made me think more about the pyramidal shape of Maslow’s hierarchy. Something to ponder in that- I tend to like spirals and circles or waveforms better for my conceptual models.
This may well be my own neurodivergence talking, but I have long believed that having Self-Actualization as the pinnacle actually misses the point of why we are here at all.
I often tell clients “if we were meant to do it alone, there’s be only one of us here.” (And, with apologies to Richard Bach whose book One postulated that idea…) My own belief is that the higher stage of evolution we are moving towards recognizes and celebrates our interdependence and interconnectedness. We live in an era that worships the individual over the collective. I’m not talking about going backwards to a time where individual needs and wants were subjugated to the collective. Instead I imagine a culture where individuals can flourish in multiple spheres of interdependence where we can find fulfillment in sharing our talents in our areas of giftedness while receiving the support we need from our chosen community members gifted in areas that complement our own.
Yey! I’m like 111! Thank you, this is brilliant and oh so true. I need to find the link to the article that explores the hierarchy Maslow actually wanted to create, where self actualisation is the foundation through inclusion. It’s fascinating, I think you’d like it,
I mean…the entire premise of this article depends on the idea that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is actually valid and not fatally flawed, sexist, racist, ableist, and outdated. I would recommend doing some research into the theory itself and other disabled thinkers’ opinions of it, particularly BIPOC people. It can definitely help us think more about our needs, but the idea of the framework is just…not it.
I'll be honest, the ADHD half of my AuDHD is staring at all of these words, wondering how to read them more efficiently. The Autistic half just wants to pet the guinea pig.
I was on a bit of a AuDHD fixation yesterday, maybe I typed AuDHD in a comment, so got this post. I saw a great Venn diagram that was Autism + ADHD + Gifted (or 2e) which hit me hard. I was also reading some of the content here and relating: https://embrace-autism.com/audhd/
Great post, so much information. I think we can self-actualize, but I think it's in fits and spurts. I touch god periodically (eww?) but always recoil back to this base, fleshy body.
Totally agree that self-actualization is more difficult! I coach NDs who aren't even aware that they're ND (and I'm gifted/ADHD/Autie). Thing is, Maslow never invented the pyramid model, someone else did that, and there's also another version that has more needs like Knowledge (which most of us are great at). In my experience, we can jump around; I think of the needs more like a circle. I definitely don't have my Belonging need met, but I have Esteem, Autonomy, Knowledge, Purpose... working on the actualization part :). The key for us, I believe, is using a totally different model: self-authorship. Check out Dr. Robert Keegan's work. When we stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and how we can fit into the world (sooooo common with NDs!) and start designing our lives to fit US vs. the world, that's when everything shifts. That's when we can feel more safe, connected, joyful, less stressed, etc etc etc. Always happy to chat about this! I also have a free email course on it.
Maslows hierarchy of needs is based on the Blackfoot nations beliefs where self actualization is actually at the base not the top. Here's an article that talks a bit more in detail about it if you're curious at all!
This article makes me feel seen and a little less alone. I truly wish there were more people in my area, especially with ADHD kids as well as adhd themselves. It would be so nice to connect. The circadian rhythm is so accurate- it is 3:25 am as I am writing this.
I'm so glad you and Henrietta added in some humour because the pyramid feels like an unscalable vertical barrier at times. Great article and superbly written.
Great read! I feel like striving to become the best version of ourselves is enough even if we can't meet Neurotypical levels of self actualisation. Maybe we just need to lower the bar for ourselves and self actualisation looks different for us.
Anyway Maslow said only 1% of adults have actually self-actualized so seems the vast majority of Neurotypicals don't reach it either. It seems a very high bar!
Thank you, Jeanie. Self-actualisation is hard but not impossible for those of us with ASD and ADHD. I'm 55 and currently under assessment for AuDHD. While I have very little hope of gaining the kind of support I need from the supposed medical experts, there is so much community and so many resources online these days. Also, now that I know what I'm dealing with, I'm like a dog with a bone. I WILL find my soul tribe and we WILL find ways of supporting each other in thriving and sharing our gifts with the world. (I love guinea pigs, by the way!!)
hello Jeanie… um, i am glad I came across your article… i have discussed the need to raise awareness about the potential of neurodivergents with various ai.s… i dunno, neurodivergency is incredibly broad so its hard for me to get a pulse on what associate with neurodivergency as there are the physical differences (emphasized via sensory issues, etc.) all the way to less noticeable/problmatic variants (differences in cognitive functions and priorites and values that often run counter to how society is developed). In the latter case, neurodivergency potential will not be acutalized until neurodivergents (1) recognize their potential and how they fit into the unfolding paradigm of the world (2) they begin to build parallel ecosystems (technologies, networks, resources) that help them function more effectively so their gifts can shine (otherwise it just pure.. struggling against a system not designed for you… )
Great work! Love this. It's so important. You've really helped Henrietta - and many others too :) Thank you for putting this out there.
This is so well written! Thank you! Ya'll check out this article to understand what neurodivergence means.
I’m so glad I happened upon your article! Your humor was just the right touch of lightness to make the subject understandable and more palatable. You’ve made me think more about the pyramidal shape of Maslow’s hierarchy. Something to ponder in that- I tend to like spirals and circles or waveforms better for my conceptual models.
This may well be my own neurodivergence talking, but I have long believed that having Self-Actualization as the pinnacle actually misses the point of why we are here at all.
I often tell clients “if we were meant to do it alone, there’s be only one of us here.” (And, with apologies to Richard Bach whose book One postulated that idea…) My own belief is that the higher stage of evolution we are moving towards recognizes and celebrates our interdependence and interconnectedness. We live in an era that worships the individual over the collective. I’m not talking about going backwards to a time where individual needs and wants were subjugated to the collective. Instead I imagine a culture where individuals can flourish in multiple spheres of interdependence where we can find fulfillment in sharing our talents in our areas of giftedness while receiving the support we need from our chosen community members gifted in areas that complement our own.
Yey! I’m like 111! Thank you, this is brilliant and oh so true. I need to find the link to the article that explores the hierarchy Maslow actually wanted to create, where self actualisation is the foundation through inclusion. It’s fascinating, I think you’d like it,
I mean…the entire premise of this article depends on the idea that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is actually valid and not fatally flawed, sexist, racist, ableist, and outdated. I would recommend doing some research into the theory itself and other disabled thinkers’ opinions of it, particularly BIPOC people. It can definitely help us think more about our needs, but the idea of the framework is just…not it.
I'll be honest, the ADHD half of my AuDHD is staring at all of these words, wondering how to read them more efficiently. The Autistic half just wants to pet the guinea pig.
I was on a bit of a AuDHD fixation yesterday, maybe I typed AuDHD in a comment, so got this post. I saw a great Venn diagram that was Autism + ADHD + Gifted (or 2e) which hit me hard. I was also reading some of the content here and relating: https://embrace-autism.com/audhd/
Great post, so much information. I think we can self-actualize, but I think it's in fits and spurts. I touch god periodically (eww?) but always recoil back to this base, fleshy body.
Totally agree that self-actualization is more difficult! I coach NDs who aren't even aware that they're ND (and I'm gifted/ADHD/Autie). Thing is, Maslow never invented the pyramid model, someone else did that, and there's also another version that has more needs like Knowledge (which most of us are great at). In my experience, we can jump around; I think of the needs more like a circle. I definitely don't have my Belonging need met, but I have Esteem, Autonomy, Knowledge, Purpose... working on the actualization part :). The key for us, I believe, is using a totally different model: self-authorship. Check out Dr. Robert Keegan's work. When we stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and how we can fit into the world (sooooo common with NDs!) and start designing our lives to fit US vs. the world, that's when everything shifts. That's when we can feel more safe, connected, joyful, less stressed, etc etc etc. Always happy to chat about this! I also have a free email course on it.
We need to create our own Maslow‘s higher key of needs
Maslows hierarchy of needs is based on the Blackfoot nations beliefs where self actualization is actually at the base not the top. Here's an article that talks a bit more in detail about it if you're curious at all!
https://barbarabray.net/2019/03/10/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-and-blackfoot-nation-beliefs/
Short answer is no. - Also you can do gifs on your covers??? Game changer.
Also…I thought I saw a little butthole eating that treat at frist…
I dunno… we give Maslow’s pyramid soooo much credit…. It’s a map not the terrain. I don’t believe that life or self actualisation is that linear….