Realising our full potential through Compassionate Mind Training

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a widely used theory of motivation. This pyramid-shaped model proposes that in order to achieve our full potential - labelled "Self-Actualization" - humans must satisfy lower-level needs before addressing higher-level ones:

1. Physiological Needs: survival needs fundamental for human existence such as food, water, warmth, and rest.
2. Once physiological needs are met, humans seek to meet their Safety Needs of safeness and security, including physical safeness, financial stability, health, and well-being.
3. At the third level of meeting Love and Belongingness Needs, social connections become important. Humans desire relationships, love, friendship, and a sense of belonging within social groups.
4. Esteem Needs: This tier encompasses self-esteem and the esteem one receives from others. It involves feelings of accomplishment, recognition, and respect.
5. At the top of the hierarchy, Self-Actualization represents the realisation of personal potential and self-fulfilment. When these needs are met, individuals can pursue personal growth, creativity, and peak experiences.

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) supports our capacity to reach self actualisation because it provides practical resources and activities relating to each of these levels:

1. Mindfulness exercises used within CMT increases our awareness of our physiological state, hence we are better able to meet these needs.
2. CMT provides tools and exercises, such as a guided safe place visualisations, to increase our feelings of safeness and connected to others in our common humanity.
3. Practising compassion increases our ability to meet our need of love & belonging, because it shifts our perception of suffering towards seeing ourselves as part of a larger shared human experience, and directs kindness towards our own, and others' difficulties.
4. Compassion has been shown to increase feelings of self-worth and support our ability to relate well to others and, crucially, to ourself.

When you're ready, I'm available for 1-1 coaching in a new, supportive & compassionate pathway towards achieving your health & well-being goals.