GRATITUDE AND MASLOW'S THEORY

I've been thinking about gratitude a lot lately.  We are a society that compares and comparing can lead to wanting more or being discouraged about your boring life.  I think this comparing phenomenon is also partly to blame for all of the hate going on in internet comments.  If we put someone else down, then we feel a little better about ourselves, right?  

There are things that I definitely would like to have right now, but is there anything that I need?  

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who is famous for his hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic of needs must be met before one can move up to the next level of needs.  For example, on the base of the pyramid are one's fundamental needs which he characterizes as physiological - sleep, food and shelter.  Once those basic needs are met, an individual moves to the next tier (safety and security).  

The goal in Maslow's theory is to reach self-actualization which means someone has reached their full potential.  Maslow also describes them as people who focus on problems outside of themselves and have a better insight of reality.  

Look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs and see where you fall.  We all have room to grow when it comes to self-actualization and reaching our full potential but we also have a lot to be thankful for.