The BLOG

An animoto series....

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding

Reception

I admit that I am highly uneducated and only a few days ago did I learn about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It makes complete sense and in fact i was theorizing this exact concept when someone that had actually taken a college psychology course pointed Maslow out to me. I scanned the pyramid of needs and immediately thought that it was missing a 6th Tier. With further reading, Ah yes..there it is...self transcendence. Maslow states that when studying the peak experiences it is no longer theoretically neat. Certainly more difficult to peg and categorize human psychology on this level.

My daughter recently stated that she prefers a dirty house because it is more stable than a clean house. She argued that scientifically, disorder is more stable than order. Order is easier to disrupt than something already in disorder. Perhaps anarchy is the way to go after all. (At least she is clever about not wanting to clean her room)

...TIER 6 and the Power of Photography...

Personally, I believe I am looking to satisfy the 6th tier. For myself, for now, this involves a dedication in giving back to the world. If god or the universe has given me a gift, if I am in a place of physical, financial and social stability...if I am on the path of self actualization, with a personal sense of balance within the 5th tier, then it only makes sense that I should return the favor of my gift to the world. So, my endeavor from now and into the future will be peak experiences through the power of photography. My intention is to find ways that I can give back to the world and the community in an effort to raise awareness and ease human suffering.

This will indeed be quite the task. Although I have joined the NAOCP to offer my charitable contribution of time and talent to families in need, it appears that here in Louisiana, we are not already connected to the organizations that they are working with. It will be up to me to do the legwork, research, make contact and organize projects with different hospices, women's shelters, animal shelters, activist groups, state foster care, etc.

If anyone else would be interested in such endeavors, I am betting we could organize a group specifically for Louisiana. I am but one person and I alone can not change the world...but I can try. Oh, and I should mention that all of this is incorporated in learning how to be a better photographer. I have theory after theory on these things and I swear the puzzle just seems to fit together. But...more on that later...

Meanwhile, I will also be making time for artistic projects. I guess I will have to wait for such projects to come to me in a flash of brilliance and of course, in the right subjects willingness.

"Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs associated with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs associated with psychological needs. Deficiency needs must be met first. Once these are met, seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growth. The higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus when the lower needs in the pyramid are satisfied. Once an individual has moved upwards to the next level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritized. However, if a lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritize those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs. The individual never regresses from one level to a lower one"

"Self-transcendence Maslow later divided the top of the triangle to add self-transcendence which is also sometimes referred to as spiritual needs. Spiritual Needs are a little different from other needs, accessible from many levels. Maslow believes that we should study and cultivate peak experiences as a way of providing a route to achieve personal growth, integration, and fulfillment. Peak experiences are unifying, and ego-transcending, bringing a sense of purpose to the individual and a sense of integration. Individuals most likely to have peak experiences are self-actualizing, mature, healthy, and self-fulfilled. All individuals are capable of peak experiences. Those who do not have them somehow suppress or deny them."

I won 2nd place in a contest that I completely forgot I had entered. Nice surprise...and I finally got my WPJA yellow medallion! ;)