INNER Stress Management (study)

Human Needs

2007-05-09T09:40:00.000-04:00

HUMAN NEEDS

Intention, to learn about the needs of all human beings.

Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs

Maslow assumed needs are arranged in a hierarchy in terms of their potency. Although all needs are instinctive, some are more powerful than others. The lower the need is in the pyramid, the more powerful it is. The higher the need is in the pyramid, the weaker and more distinctly human it is.

1st- Physical Needs: The first four layers of the pyramid are what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "D-needs:" the individual does not feel anything if they are met, but feels anxious if they are not met. The base of the pyramid is formed by the physiological needs, including the biological requirements for food, water, air, and sleep.

2nd- Safety Needs: Once the physiological needs are met, an individual can concentrate on the second level, the need for safety and security. Included here are the needs for structure, order, security, and predictability.

3rd- Love/Belonging Needs: Included here are the needs for friends and companions, a supportive family, identification with a group, and an intimate relationship.

4th- Esteem Needs: This group of needs requires both recognition from other people that results in feelings of prestige, acceptance, and status, and self-esteem that results in feelings of adequacy, competence, and confidence. Lack of satisfaction of the esteem needs results in discouragement and feelings of inferiority.

5th- Spiritual Needs: Self-actualization is the instinctual need of humans to make the most of their unique abilities and to strive to be the best they can be.

They embrace the realities of the world and themselves rather than denying.
They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
They are creative.
They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others.
They have inner morality that is independent of external authority.
They do not judge others.
They feel a closeness to other people, and appreciation of life.

The "in" of INNER Stress Management

2007-04-18T09:51:00.000-04:00

Dictionary- in 'used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within'.

INNER- Stressors outside of us are a fact of life. To manage them we can develop our inner mental qualities of Interest, Intention and Inquiry. This is sometimes called having an INNER LIFE.

Interest- interested in what is happening inside of us physically, emotionally and mentally.

Intention- intentional of the attitude we are bring to our response to the unpleasantness.

Inquiry- inquiry into the stressor and the reactions to it, so that it may be understood.

The SPA

2007-04-12T22:30:00.000-04:00

THE SPA MEDITATION LEARNING MODEL
“Study, Practice & Apply”

Introduction:
The suggestion is that the more the body, heart and mind are understood. The less stress we hold. The 3 aspects of this process are study, practice and understanding.

Study- Reading and listening to talks can provide different intellectual models of practice to consider. With study an INTEREST to practice often occurs.
Practice- The practice of formal meditation and daily mindfulness (remembering to come back into the present moment) allow for the realizations of new understandings to arise.
Apply- With open minded inquiry we gain insight into the true nature of stress and our role in it.

These new understandings lead to INTEREST in further study. Further study leads to more practice. Regular practice leads to more understanding. More understanding = less stress. :-)