Human beings may be very different on the surface, but our minds, bodies, and spirits share some very common traits, and those include a set of things that we all need to have a happy and productive life, and which promote healthy growth and development. A man by the name of Abraham Maslow spent his life researching what those common needs are, and came up with a pyramidal diagram that he called the "Hierarchy of Needs". The Wise Turtle has taken that useful, but rather dull, pyramid that Maslow created and turned it into a beautiful spiral of empty bowls just waiting to be filled up with healthy creature comforts!

The human needs are, in order of importance:

• clean air
• clean water
• healthy food
• physical movement and rest
• healthy sensory stimulation
• safety and shelter
• a safe and loving home and community
• belonging and usefulness
• exploration and understanding
• diversity, beauty, and creativity
• understanding of yourself
• a better world
• a peaceful self

Anytime you need to make a decision in life, you can use this list to evaluate your options. If an option provides more of any of these needs, and doesn't deplete any of them, then it's a good option. And if you feel like you are sufffering, or even if it just seems like there is something missing in life, consider that you are probably deficient in one of these needs - find a way to fulfill these needs and your suffing will very likely cease. Admittedly, this is a heck of a lot easier said than done, but it's a good place to start, right?

For more detailed information about these needs, read on...

clean air

Air is pretty much our number one need, as you probably would agree. (The only things more important to our health involve basic physics, such as gravity and electrons and non-vacuum-like atmospheres. But stick to living on planet Earth and stay above water and below the clouds, and you don't need to worry too much about these needs.) It's rather important to have plenty of clean air in our environment, so we don't die right off the bat. Plants are delightfully good at making our air cleaner and adding fresh oxygen to the world, so make sure you have lots of plants in your life, and make sure that there isn't indoor or outdoor pollution making your air dirty either.

Also consider trying out some breathing exercises to make your lungs and diaphram more effective at bringing that fresh air into your body. We all know how to breathe, but we don't always breathe well. Breathing exercises can help you breathe like a pro!

clean water

Yep, good old refreshing water. Keep your body 50-70% full of the stuff by drinking lots of water every day - and not just juice or tea, but plain old healthy water. Also, find out where your water comes from and what might be added to it, because you don't want to be putting anything unhealthy into your body along with your water.

healthy food

Eating a variety of fresh, whole, not-so-processed foods will make your body and brain work smoothly and optimally. Eat seasonally and locally as much as possible and avoid eating things that make you feel sluggish. A healthy meal will energize your body and mind!

physical movement and rest

Keep your body busy! Move fast, move slow, move big, move small, move silly, move seriously! Also make sure to give your body a rest sometimes. A good night's sleep will let your muscles and other parts regenerate a bit so that you can move again when you wake up.

healthy sensory stimulation

Include plenty of exciting as well as relaxing things for your eyes, ears, touch, taste, and smell every day to keep your senses alive and healthy. Be careful though, too much stimulation can be overwhelming and stressful, while too little stimulation can be boring and prevent you from growing and developing a healthy brain, so keep your sensory stimulation at a healthy balance.

safety and shelter

You need to have a way to keep your body safe from physical harm and extreme environmental conditions. In a cold climate, clothes, housing, and a relatively nonthreatening environment are crucial for your long term health. In a warmer climate, shelter and a nonthreatening environment will probably suffice, though local customs and laws might not necessarily agree!

a loving home

You need to have somewhere you can go to where you feel like you are loved, respected, and supported, and where conflict is dealt with in a fair and compassionate manner. You probably won't die without a loving community and home, but you won't thrive and grow healthfully without them either. So seek out an environment of love and support to call your home.

belonging and usefulness

We do indeed need to be needed! So find a way to apply your talents, skills, passions, and dreams to your community's and society's needs. Everyone has at least something useful to add to the world, and you will feel important and productive and healthy when you find it and offer it up. Make sure to find people who support you and appreciate your work, so that you are reassured of the value of your contributions. And don't be afraid to listen to advice and constructive criticism because this kind of honest feedback will allow you to make the most of what you have to offer.

exploration and understanding

Ask questions! Investigate how the world works and see what you can find out. Use all your senses and your mental abilities to look at the world from different perspectives and see what makes things happen. Come up with theories and test them out. Find causes and effects, and come up with ways to solve some of the problems you see in your world.

diversity, beauty, and creativity

Admire all the amazing and unique combinations of animals, vegetables, and minerals in the universe. Find something to appreciate about the tiniest bug, the vastest mountain range, the weirdest machine, the most boring lecture, and the craziest idea. And then go on to create some of your own diverse and beautiful things to add to the world for others to explore.

understanding of yourself

Bring the focus of your exploration and understanding onto your own mind, body, and spirit. Learn about your whole being, not just the every day person that you've been in the past, but also the potential self that you could be in the future, as well as the limitless self that you are in the present. Seek out people who seem to be really getting the most out of life and really live well, find out what they do to be that way, and try it out to see if it works well for you. Look at what is going well for you and what isn't, and see what you can do about getting more of what you want in life and less of what you don't.

a better world

Use all of your accumulated wisdum, talents, and skills to help others meet their needs and live life well, in a beautiful, diverse, and creative way. Find your purpose and make a committment to making your goals happen in as amazing a way as possible.

a peaceful self

Learn how to drop the conflict in your own mind and body and spirit, and bring it all together into one collaborative kick ass human being who has the power to work with the universe to successfully help the world get where it needs to go. Bring balance to the force! Become enlightened! Transcend your self! Or something like that...

reference:  http://www.thewiseturtle.com/needs.html