Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...Can't get away from it!

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think nursing is my primary foundation. I know the primary foundation is Christ, not JUST nursing. But Christ is the foundation and the core. He is at level of our being. I’m saying that He put other foundations in our life to shape and lead us during this stay on Earth.

For those who have ever taken a psychology class you will be very familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The pyramid represents Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation and suggests that lower needs must be met before moving to the next level. Self-actualization is the process of developing as a person to achieve individual potential. And for me, my potential is found in nursing. It’s different for everyone. Jamie’s is in trucking; Courtney’s could be in singing. For some it’s being a teacher, pastor, police officer, salesman, for some it’s being the best parent they can be, for other’s it’s doing the best with the choices they have made in life.

Basically, I know that no level of achievement in this Hierarchy of Needs is met without God as the center. But I feel He gives us other foundations to build upon to reach the different levels.

The Roads of My Journey

(I was just looking back over some of my earlier journal entries and liked this one. Thought I’d share it. From Jan 12,2010)

Heb 11:10 HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY WITH FOUNDATIONS, WHOS ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD.      Make decisions not with present security and future retirement in mind but with forever in full view.

I’ve given my life to God. I didn’t completely surrender it until I let go of everything and went to nursing school. It took me until I was 35 to realize holding on tight to the “control” wheel in my life was leading me no where quickly. The past five years of allowing God to have full control were some of the hardest yet best years of my life. How much greater will the remaining years be knowing who’s in the driver seat!

My “city with foundations” that God has given me is nursing. I feel, He built and designed  me with nursing in mind. He called me to nursing when I was 17 volunteering in a special education classe. I can remember it distinctively. I was looking out the window and I felt like it was just whispered in my ear, "You will be a nurse!" I must admit, I didn't believe it. (There are still days, I don't believe it).  I was an average student that struggled with test taking. I don’t know where he’s leading me through this "city" of nursing, but I can say I have enjoyed the ride.  Although the roads leading to this city have not been the smoothest roads to travel.

I have tried to keep my focus no matter what road I am on. When I am on the gravel roads and the pot holes seem to stretch across each side, I readjust, slow down and move intentionally as I ease around them and take care to avoid blowing a tire.  When I am headed up the mountain, I dig in, shift to a lower gear and remain diligent in reaching the top. When I am on the highway cruising along, I feel exhilarated and alive and yet I am not always focused on what the journey has to offer. There are the times I am on the expressway, and I zoom in and out of traffic as if I’m in a race, yet I don’t know what I’m trying to win,  who I am trying to impress or what I have to prove.

So I ask you Lord,  Help me learn to focus on the foundation you have planned and built for me and to learn the lessons I need to learn no matter what “road” I’m on in this journey.