Don’t invert the pyramid. Happiness and fulfillment do not begin with self-actualization, but rather in the sense that you are safe and secure in your life. Too often we are told, and find ourselves believing, that self-affirmation and spirituality will bring happiness. If only it were that simple. Before all else we must feel safe; we must find the means to build, find, retreat to or otherwise realize a secure place to exist. Self-affirmation can be a tool to this end, but only insofar as we tell ourselves, indeed challenge ourselves, to make our own worlds safe and secure:
- I set clear boundaries that keep me emotionally and physically safe.
- I choose people and environments that support my well-being.
- I deserve and am creating a space that nurtures my body, mind, and spirit.
- I am building a home where I feel safe, seen, and supported.
- I listen to my instincts and make decisions that prioritize my security.
This is message behind the first chapter of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization