In 1954, Abraham Maslow gave us 5 levels of needs that individuals' contribute to an individual's motivation. His model remains relevant today.

His belife is that you will begin at the lowest level and only progress to the next when you are fully statisfied internally that you have accomplished all that you need to do at in each one.

1. Physiological Needs:

These are your basic needs and include food, clothing, shelter, air, water, etc. These needs are based on your survival.

2. Safety Needs:

These needs are also important for living as everybody wants job security, to feel safe and secure and to be able to protect your property that you have work hard to obtain.

3. Social Needs:

These needs are important because human being, like most animals are social in nature. You want to feel important, belong, have friends, connect and be liked and loved.

4. Esteem Needs:

These needs are your desire for self-respect, recognition and respect from others.

5. Self-actualization Needs:

These are the highest order needs and may be found in persons who have already satisfied the previous 4 levels of needs. It includes community service, social involvement, sprituality, and so on.

It is very important to understand where you see yourself within the levels. If, for example, you are are currently occupied with providing your basic needs, you could be setting yourself up for failure by setting goals to achieve self-actualisation.

Progressing upwards is the ultimate goal however, doing so realistically is key.