Each person has basic human needs. This is different from “needing” to have the latest video game or “needing” to have some ice cream. These are needs that are required for living life as a healthy, happy human being.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with his Hierarchy of Needs which you can see in the illustration below.

He hypothesized that our needs start at the bottom of the triangle and move up. Once the needs at the bottom of the triangle are met, then we can start meeting the needs on the next tier of the triangle. When all of our needs are met, we are then a happy, healthy human being.

Starting at the bottom of the triangle are physiological needs. These are physical needs we must have in order to survive. These include food, water, breathing, and shelter.

According to Maslow, once our physical needs are met, then we can look at our need to feel safe. These include the need to know that you are physically safe, financially safe as well as safe from accidents or illness.

After safety needs is the need to belong. Belonging can include friendships, family, and other relationships.

After belonging needs are esteem needs. These needs include the feelings of being accepted, valued, and respected by others.

Our final needs to make us a happy, healthy human being, according to Maslow, are self-actualization needs. This is the need to realize your potential and do what you were “born to do.”