Happ(y)ness...

This week I watched the Will Smith movie ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’. I know Happiness is spelt incorrectly, but you’ll have to watch the movie for that. It’s the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who had little and lost it all trying his best to get ahead. But the thing is he persevered and kept pushing to achieve his goal. Chris refused to give in to despair as he struggles to create a better life for himself and his son. A life that he earned, through determination and the undying want of something better. The pay off was he went on to become a very successful businessman, but never forgot his struggle and set up a charitable foundation for those less fortunate. 

It shows the many hardships he faced, and in one scene in particular he gave his last $5 to someone because they asked, irrespective of the benefactor being a wealthy man to start with. A true reflection that those with the least give the most. 

Regardless of what you have always give with the intention of no matter how little it is, it is given to help. 

The one thing that resonated with me as I watched the film is it directly reflects the tiers on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A theory in psychology in Abraham Maslow’s 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation". It demonstrates that as humans we always look up, but only truly when we are satisfied with were we are at. 

Maslow used the terms "physiological", "safety", "belonging/love", "esteem", and "self actualisation” to describe the path which human motivations generally take. Basically, in order for motivation to occur at the next level, each level must be satisfied within the individual themselves. So just like Chris in the movie, we must establish our physiological needs first and foremost. The provision of food, water, rest, warmth. All this is the most basic human requirement for survival. Following on from this the next stage can be sought out. And so it continues. 

In life we subconsciously do this, we have a primeval instinct to survive. To obtain, to thrive and to grow. We do it every day without thinking. Why? Because we are lucky enough to have these basic needs catered for in our every day lives. 

Just like Chris Gardner, don’t forget that you have everything you have through the actualisation of the most basic needs. You have more than you realise and more than many who go without even the basics in life. By design the very fact that you are reading this means you are already in the top two tiers of the hierarchical pyramid. 

So take a moment to reflect on what you have, and when you think you haven’t got something take another moment to think your bad day could be an aspiration for others. 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But it just that time...

Happy Damn Friday Peeps! x

I'd love to hear from you - you can reach me on:

@happydamnfriday on Twitter

happydamnfriday@outlook.com

happydamnfriday@yahoo.com