Full Hearts, Full Hierarchy of Needs
Full Hearts, Full Pantries began as a simple idea: meet people where they are, fill the immediate gaps, and make sure no one goes hungry tonight. In just 2.5 weeks, it has provided emergency food aid to more than 300 people. This is a reminder that compassion is most powerful when it is practical, tangible, and rooted in meeting basic human needs. That philosophy is also at the heart of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which gives us a clear framework for understanding self-care in a way that’s deeper than bubble baths and solo coffee dates.
Maslow’s hierarchy is often visualized as a pyramid, with our most essential needs forming the base. At the bottom are physiological needs: food, water, sleep, and physical safety. These needs must be met before we can effectively focus on emotional wellbeing, confidence, or personal growth. In reality, though, many people try to practice “self-care” from the top down- jumping straight to affirmations, productivity strategies, or mindfulness techniques while their most foundational needs remain unmet or not prioritized.
One of the most overlooked truths about self-care is this: you cannot heal or thrive when you’re hungry, unsafe, or exhausted. If your body is in survival mode, the rest of the pyramid becomes nearly impossible to climb. Ensuring access to food, rest, and dependable support isn’t glamorous, but it’s the most meaningful form of care we can give ourselves and each other.
Once physiological needs are met, the next level, safety, becomes attainable. This includes financial stability, consistent housing, secure relationships, and access to healthcare. Self-care at this level might look like setting boundaries, creating routines, or seeking resources that protect your wellbeing. But again, these practices only work when the most basic needs are already supported.
Higher in the pyramid are belonging, esteem, and self-actualization, the parts of self-care culture we hear about most frequently. This is where journaling, meditation, personal growth, creativity, and confidence-building come in. These practices matter deeply, but they are not the starting point. They are what become possible when the foundation is strong.
That’s why initiatives like Full Hearts, Full Pantries matter so much. Meeting basic needs is not a “nice gesture”, it is the foundation of everything else a person might hope to achieve. When someone has reliable food for the week, their stress lowers, their options expand, and their capacity for emotional or personal growth becomes real again.
In just 2.5 weeks, Full Hearts, Full Pantries has supported more than 300 people. That is over 300 chances for someone to begin rebuilding their pyramid of needs from the ground up, and over 300 reminders that true self-care starts with meeting the needs that keep us alive, stable, and human.
EDIT: My Mother In Law brought to my attention that there is some controversy over the origins of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and I’d like to address those points and add them here! From my MIL:
“Because there is a lot of debate about whether he poached it [the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy] from indigenous people, I usually say this or add it as a disclaimer on my slides [for work].
‘Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, widely known in psychology, was influenced by his time with the Blackfoot Nation. Their perspective emphasizes community, cultural identity, and balance—values that differ from the individualistic focus often associated with Maslow’s model. Recognizing this influence helps us appreciate the depth and diversity of human approaches to well-being.’”
Stay Safe!
Allison at MHB
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