She looked happy and healthy there in the staff picture and I told her so, whereupon she confessed to being happier than she has been in a long time. So where does this happiness come from? I say it comes because finally, her basic needs are met.
Some of us are able to soldier on indefinitely without one or more of our basic needs being satisfied. She is one of those toughies. It is arduous work. We may be hungry for a time, homeless for a week, not belong or not be loved for a season. Relentless poverty eventually takes its toll. Often, we are so consumed by basic survival needs that we cannot create or produce at optimum levels. Our creative work, our self-actualization suffers.
“If these “deficiency needs” are not met – with the exception of the most fundamental (physiological) need – there may not be a physical indication, but the individual will feel anxious and tense. Maslow’s theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs.”
In this case, she is happy because her basic Maslowian needs of food and shelter are met and she is free to relax in joy and create. She is dependent in the sense that part of her job security includes room and board, yet she is not totally dependent. She is independent and interdependent because she pursued this position and works hard daily to earn and maintain it. Someone acknowledges her value, promotes her well-being, provides the right amount of training and challenging outdoor activity; all in a beautiful mountain setting.
How would you like to be happier than you have been in a long time? Why not set about to take care of yourself? To consciously address your basic needs? A good job may be the first step – preferably doing something you love that includes serving others while taking care of yourself. It is hugely fulfilling to be independent enough to take responsibility for yourself and have enough to share. Frequent beautiful places. Exercise. Don’t quit on your music, or writing, or reading, or things that enrich your life and nourish your soul. Sleep well. Eat well. May you be happier than you have been in a long time.