Hierarchy of Needs

If you are searching to establish and create a life of health and happiness, it may be overwhelming to figure out where to start if you have never really thought about it deeply. Often times we move in flow with everyday activities and tasks that need to get done and one day find we are not feeling fulfilled. This guide will assist you with the essentials and where to start. Please reach out to us here if you would like coaching or guidance.

(1) Physiological Needs:

• Water

• Food

• Sleep

• Shelter

This is essential to life and living.

(2) Safety Needs:

• Health

• Well-Being

• Financial Security

• Emotional Security

• Personal Security

Pay attention to these areas in your life.

It is the next most important level.

(3) Love and Belonging Needs:

• Family

• Friendships

• Intimacy

Maintaining a connection to people is essential to prevent loneliness and to feel a sense of belonging.

(4) Esteem Needs:

• Self-Respect

• Self-Esteem

Feel respected, accepted, and valued by others by participating in activities and hobbies that you can successfully accomplish.

(5) Self Actualization Needs:

• Seek Happiness

• Pursue a Goal

• Utilize Talents/Abilities

Participate in activities that make you feel happy.

Use your life experiences as a tool to connect with others.

Based off of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Unlocking Self-Actualization Through Creativity, Connection, and Plant Medicine

I’ve been sitting with Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for a long time, especially that top tier—self-actualization. It’s the space where we feel most aligned with our purpose, deeply connected to ourselves and others, and tapped into a source that feels bigger than the everyday. It’s also the space where creativity flows freely, and where we start to experience what Maslow called "peak experiences"—those moments that feel transcendent, awe-filled, and full of truth.

Maslow believed that in the right environment, with the right support, these moments could happen more regularly—not just once-in-a-lifetime spiritual highs, but something woven into daily life. He even believed that psychedelics like LSD or Psilocybin (used intentionally) could support this process, helping people access deeper layers of their consciousness and uncovering new insight, clarity, and healing.

As a creative arts therapist I see this possibility unfolding all the time. When we create—whether it’s a painting, a collage, a dance, or even a ritual—we’re not just expressing ourselves, we’re witnessing ourselves. That kind of creative witnessing is sacred. It gives voice to parts of us that don’t always get airtime. It’s a way of remembering who we really are underneath the noise.

The same is true when we connect. With others. With nature. With ourselves. Especially after grief, change, or periods of disconnect, connection becomes medicine. And sometimes—when guided with care—plant medicines can help us soften our defenses and re-open to that connection. They don’t do the work for us, but they help us remember where to look.

Self-actualization isn’t about being perfect or enlightened. It’s about aligning with what feels true. It’s about showing up for your life with more presence, creativity, and openness. It’s about having tools to return to yourself when the world pulls you away.

Whether through art, movement, integration work, or quiet time in nature, we can create those “peak moments” that nourish the soul—and they don’t have to be rare.

If you’re on this path too, you’re not alone. And if you’ve been searching for ways to reconnect with yourself, I hope you know this: your creativity, your sensitivity, your desire for meaning—they’re not just welcome here. They’re essential.