Each of us has our own unique reasons for wanting to choose toxic-free products. But I just discovered that in addition to our individual motivations, collectively as human beings we actually have a deep need to protect ourselves from the harm inherent in toxic chemical exposure.
There is something you may already be familiar with called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs . It was first proposed in 1943 by Abraham Maslow, a psychology professor at Alliant International University, Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research, and Columbia University. His work stressed the importance of focusing on the positive qualities in people, as opposed to treating them as a “bag of symptoms,” His Hierarchy of Needs theorizes that human beings are motivated by an urge to fulfill basic human needs beginning with such basic needs as food and water and culminating with being fully themselves. Above is a diagram of his original hierarchy, but later in life Maslow expanded the model to include other needs as well.
I’ve known about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for many years, but looking at them again recently I noticed that we all have a need to be SAFE, and that is so basic that it comes right after our need for food, water, warmth and sleep. Included in that need are health and well-being, and to be safe against accidents and illnesses and their adverse impacts.
We’re actually “wired” to resist that which might harm us.
When we choose toxic-free products we are fulfilling oura basic human need to be safe.
More and more it is becoming clear to me in my own life the importance of having these “bottom of the hierarchy” needs securely in place. These are the necessities of life. Without them the nourishment of food and the hydration of water we can do nothing. Filling these foundation need of biological necessities and safety, we then have a firm foundation for life on which we can build to live the life of our dreams.
