I do not know why I started thinking on this subject and how the thread kept getting longer. Since long I have been wanting to write on related subjects,thoughts have crossed my mind, few got penned, few kept returning periodically,at times intriguing and a few just whisked away. That swooshing sound.
Was it the concept of relationships (bonds people share with their family, friends, colleagues) or how/why should one trust another or the discussion on the content of blogs(people want to be read, heard, appreciated) or how does one talk about oneself on a public forum, is one so sure about himself./herself, people writing truth about emotions we all share but don’t either accept or realise and hence not talk about? In the end I managed to make sense of it all. Now I have a structure in mind and things have fallen beautifully in place. I hope to continue writing till I reach its logical end. For a change Ill try to be lucid 
To help fit in everything I work on what is supposedly the most well known theory of motivation, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Just a brief on what it says: Every human being has a hierarchy of five needs. Consider a pyramid with five levels and if we progress bottom-up at the ground level we have Physiological needs (includes hunger, thirst, shelter, sex and other bodily needs) followed by Safety needs (includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm). At the middle level are the Social needs (includes affection, belongingness, acceptance and friendship). The penultimate level is Esteem (includes internal esteem factors such as self respect,autonomy and achievement and external esteem factors such as status, recognition and attention). The top level is Self actualization (the drive to become what one is capable of becoming, includes growth, achieving one’s potential and self fulfillment).
I consider junta who have their physiological and safety needs fulfilled. I also assume that Man is a social animal. The life of 9 out 10 people can be mirrored in this model. The key drivers in the life of such people are level 2 and level 3 needs viz psychological and social. Every decision pertaining to either their personal or professional self is determined by parameters controlling these needs. The basic principles of consumerism are deep rooted here. Advertisers focus primarily on the sex appeal of the product or project it as a status symbol. Many hang around with a group because they do not wish to be an outcast. Your decisions are influenced by what others(read society, peers) appreciate or look up-to. And most do this sub consciously. The desire for affection, to be loved, the want to feel good in the eyes of another individual are incentives people can’t seem to resist. There are times when the extrinsic rewards(power, money, status) out weigh the intrinsic rewards(peace,satisfaction). It is very easy to get lost in your psychological needs.However, its very important to maintain a balance between the two. And I for reasons not known to me searched for an alternate model.
I arrived at the tipping point a month back, on my journey back home. Again, I can’t seem to recollect whether it was at the airport waiting for boarding to start or during the flight( Jet airways does not have pretty air hostess) Why not play with the hierarchy model, lets flip it. Let me make a cyclic shift between the top three levels such that Self actualization is at level three, social needs at level two and at the top level I place the psychological needs.In this model you place your potential before the material rewards. You work on your strengths and follow your heart.I have fallen in love with this model
I’m sure 1 of every 10 people do follow this model, may be sub-consciously. Consumerism, advertising, decision making in life will take a whole new turn if this model holds true for even 3 out of 10 people. If you look at it well I think there exists an equilibrium here too. The 10% of the junta in the alternate model realizes the instincts of the other 90% and place their products /services to cater to the “needs” of the customers.
The concept of socializing changes if we look through the mirror of the alternate model. Self potential takes a front seat rather than the perception of the society. All the questions that crossed my mind(the second para) get answered and queries resolved by the two models It is for people to see it for themselves.
In my opinion, the society is changing. Presently in India we are headed to a balance between people following both models. These models loosely work in two different directions. One where your family/friends push you towards what is good for you and second where you are the driving force and your family/friends act as a catalyst. Some might argue that individualists are devoid of emotion but you can very well position yourself between the level 2 & 3.
Its been many days since I thought of writing this and I think Ill stop here. May be some time later Ill add more Not very sure why I have actually written this.
P.S: Question: If one is not supposed to drink and drive,why do pubs have parking lots?
