One day, each of us will experience old age, times of weakness when our vigour will have evaporated like a mass of ice under the terror of the sun. One day, we'll still want to look young, strong and full of the energy we had twenty years ago. One day, we'd like to have seized every opportunity we were presented with, every possibility we were exposed to, and to have used every second we had to the full. Like all those who live in such dark hours, but it's not up to them to decide, all we have to do in turn is decide what to do with the time allotted to us. Regret is not for the things we did, but for the things we should have done. And when, in the rear-view mirror of time, we realise that we have not used our resources wisely, the regret will be even more bitter.
But the greatest regret would be to suffer the diktat of the weight of age without having accomplished something noble that could inspire posterity, create in it a trigger for future responsibility. The greatest heresy would be to see one's days evaporate, along with everything that would have been a landmark for youth, but which, through pride and egocentricity, we have vainly exhausted in things that have no real substance.But it could be that our deepest aspirations depend on much more complex realities such as our level of consciousness or knowledge, our life experience and above all our natural appetite for things of value and grandeur. And it could be that this vision of life has already been the subject of a great deal of research and investigation in the fields of philosophy, spirituality, sociology and even experimental science. And among the most renowned researchers of our era is Abraham Maslow, who conducted studies and concluded that all human beings are driven by needs. He is the founding father of the famous Maslow Pyramid theory, developed in 1943, a well-known psychology theory that describes a hierarchy of human needs. According to Maslow, individuals are motivated to satisfy specific needs, organised into five levels, from the most basic to the most complex. Dr Raoul Ruben used this to introduce a masterly Training session in Kinshasa as part of the MOMENTUM A21 TOUR 2, which will culminate in March 2025 in a gigantic event combining A21 ANNUAL CELEBRATION and A21 LEADER CAMP. There is no doubt that Maslow's pyramid is a theory based on proven facts that can be perfectly explained by the different behaviours we see on a daily basis.
1- PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS (BASE OF THE PYRAMID)
These needs are essential to human survival. They include breathing, food, water, sleep, reproduction and maintaining the body's biological balance (homeostasis). Without satisfying these needs, human beings cannot function properly. These needs are instinctive, and do not require man to be conscious or unaware in order to satisfy them; they do not require any intelligence or predisposition whatsoever. This is why people on this step of the pyramid are considered to be slaves, because they work for one thing only: to relieve the belly. And when the main activity of life is to solve the problems of hunger, then that's the end of any form of revolution, will to power or greatness. People at this level of the pyramid are more often than not victims of manipulation, prone to any form of compromise and easily seduced by the easy way out. This is proof that there really is no honour in poverty and insecurity.
2- SECURITY NEEDS
Once physiological needs have been met, the individual seeks to feel secure. These needs include protection against physical and economic dangers, financial stability, health security and stable housing. This level reflects a fundamental need for predictability and control in everyday life. Each step of the pyramid is in principle a journey, a learning experience and an opportunity for self-discovery. The more we refine our needs, the more we realise the subtlety of life and the purpose attached to it. This is why, when we have satisfied the needs of the previous step, we are carried along by the needs of the next step, and this is the characteristic of all Man who aspires to greatness and growth.
3- THE NEED TO BELONG AND LOVE
This level reflects the need for social and emotional connections. These include friendships, romantic love and a sense of belonging to a group or community. A lack of this level can lead to feelings of loneliness or exclusion. People who have reached this level are driven by a desire to belong to a community or organisation, a desire to form social ties that strengthen their own humanity and give it meaning. In these communities, they know that they can count on others and that others can count on them in times of need, which reinforces their sympathy capital. But there are even greater people who are driven by a desire for esteem.
4- ESTEEM NEEDS
Esteem is divided into two categories:
- Self-esteem: Confidence in one's abilities, personal achievement.
- Recognition by others: Respect, being valued by others, social status.
When these needs are not met, the individual may suffer from an inferiority complex or a lack of self-confidence. This is why people at this level of achievement work so hard to have their work recognised by the hierarchy as a social contribution, for example the abolition of the death penalty or the Nobel Peace Prize. In short, people from this stratum of society are remarkable citizens, having worked to make life potable, whether through the discovery of a scientific formula, the invention of a revolutionary machine or a commitment that has created a stir in the collective consciousness.
5- THE NEED FOR SELF-FULFILMENT (AT THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID)
This is the need to fulfil one's potential and excel. This level mainly takes into account creativity, the quest for meaning and truth, the achievement of personal goals and, more generally, the quest for spiritual growth. Maslow considered this level to be the highest, but later added another dimension: transcendence, where the individual devotes himself to causes or objectives beyond his own self-interest.People at this level of the pyramid are driven more by power, but the power of service, because their deepest desire is to leave an indelible mark on the earth of mankind. In principle, their quest is for immortality or eternity, because they want to leave a legacy or empire that will stand the test of time and survive the passing of eras and generations.
Maslow's pyramid remains a fundamental reference in psychology and other fields, such as marketing and management, for understanding human motivations. And the advice that Dr Raoul Ruben gave today as his closing words was that we should each strive to climb this pyramid step by step and aspire to reach the top. Because the top is for the decision-makers, the powerful men and above all those who preside over the destinies of humanity. So it is with good reason that this contemporary had to recognise: ‘At the top of the pyramid of man's needs is Power’.
