Speech Outline

Title: Pursuing Happiness using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Specific Purpose: By the end of my speech the audience will be persuaded to live in a way that optimizes happiness.

Introduction

I. ATTENTION Step

Attention: "Happiness is a warm puppy," a famous quote in a book by Peanuts creator, Charles Shultz, that exemplifies the fact that, for each of us, happiness is something different. The one thing that can be agreed upon, however, is that it's something we'd all like to achieve.

Give Audience Reason to Listen: Happier people, or people who are more optimistic about life and their future, are likely to make more money, have better job performance, are better suited to find opportunities for growth in their career, and have more stable relationships. Happiness also leads to a longer and healthier life. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides us with a step by step approach to happiness that will make the process of achieving it appear much easier.

Establish Credibility: I first learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs during my junior year of high school as a theory that explained how to become self-fulfilled. It was reintroduced to me my senior year when learning about interior design and how certain design aspects can help one achieve that ultimate step of self-actualization. That was where I learned that this theory could be applied in almost any setting. However, it wasn't until this year that I was taught the connection between "self-actualization" and "happiness" and that when one has realized their full potential, that's when their happiness is at it's peak. After this was brought to my attention I did some refined research on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it relates in the pursuit of happiness.

Central Idea: Meeting your needs will establish happiness in your life and can bring positive changes to your health, relationships, and career.

Preview Main Points: Today we will cover…

Need/Problem: Unhappiness and how it can cause problems within our bodies and our lives.

Satisfaction/Solution: The steps we can take to achieve happiness based on the theory of Abraham Maslow.

Visualization/Benefits, Consequences: The benefits of living a happy life along with the consequences being unhappy can bring.

Signpost: I'm reintroducing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to you today to help solve some growing problems within ourselves and our world.

II. NEED/PROBLEM Step

A.     Internal Problems (Health and Mental Well-Being)

a.       Less than 65% of the population is happy.

b.      Americans are on average 69% happy.

c.       Children are happy 52% of the time, neutral 29% of the time, and 19% of the time they're unhappy.

d.      20-24 year-olds are sad 3.4 days per month and ages 65-74 on average are only sad 2.3 days per month.

e.       1/4 of the population is mildly depressed.

f.        Depression is 3-10 times more common today than two generations ago.

g.       Illnesses caused by stress:

1.      Bronchial asthma

2.      Tension/Migraine headaches

3.      Joint dysfunction

B.     External Problems (Job, School, and Relationships)

a.       Work:

1.      "Each year, depression affects at least 10 million people, often during their most productive years--between the ages of 25 and 44."

2.      "In 1989, depression cost the nation an estimated...$17 billion...due to time lost from work. There is no way to estimate the total cost of lost productivity."

3.      Problems with morale, lack of cooperation, having frequent accidents, absenteeism, and fatigue.

b.      School:

1.      "Approximately 4% - 12% of school-aged children (depending on the age) meet the criteria for being depressed..."

2.      Inability to focus and pay attention, failure to complete homework, lack of a drive to get to school, and an inhibition on peer relationships.

c.       Relationships:

1.      Isolation, disinterest, being overly emotional, and short-temperament.

Signpost: Now that I've opened your eyes to some of the bigger problems caused by unhappiness in its many forms, I'll explain Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how it can be applied to optimize happiness.

III. SATISFACTION/SOLUTION Step:

A.     Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

a.       Theory introduced by Abraham Maslow in 1943.

b.      People must fulfill basic needs before higher needs may be achieved.

c.       "...living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion."

d.      Only 10% of external factors are responsible for our happiness.

e.       50% is made up of internal factors like attitude, outlook on life, relationships, and engagement in activities.

B.     Physiological Needs

a.       Food, water, air, sleep, and exercise.

b.      Eating right, staying hydrated, and getting the right amount of sleep your body needs.

c.       Happiness can increase by 10-20% in 6 months by exercising for 20 minutes, 3 times a week.

C.     Security Needs

a.       Shelter, steady employment, health insurance, and living in a safe neighborhood.

b.      The more civic liberty and just laws a country has, the happier its inhabitants will be.

c.       Don't necessarily have to enjoy the situation you're in, as long as these needs are met.

D.     Social Needs

a.       Higher order needs.

b.      Belonging, love, and affection in the form of romantic relationships, family, and friends.

c.       Having meaningful social ties and being in steady relationships.

d.      A study conducted at Harvard proved that children that were hugged and cuddled more, or shown more affection, grew up to be the happiest.

E.      Esteem Needs

a.       Self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment.

b.      Respect and be respected.

c.       Enable you to live authentically, free from worrying about social pressures and the influence of peer opinions.

F.      Self-Actualization

a.       Self aware, desiring personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and is interested in fulfilling their full potential.

b.      "What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization...It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is capable of becoming."

c.       Have peak experiences, or moments of flow, where they feel intense joy, wonder, and awe. After one of these moments, that person may feel inspired or renewed.

d.      Do what they are passionate about regardless of financial gain.

Signpost: Although there are many happiness theories out there, Maslow's is the only one that provides you with a structured road map to achieve it. Even if you don't agree with his theory, here are some reasons to seek out happiness.

IV. VISUALIZATION/BENEFITS, CONSEQUENCES Step

A.     Benefits

a.       Better mental and physical health

1.      Better health and longer life.

2.      2,200 people over the age of 65 were tested for positive emotion and then tracked for two years. The end result of the study was that the happy people were 50% more likely to be alive and 50% less likely to become disabled.

3.      Endure pain better and have stronger immune systems, producing as much as 50% more antibodies than people who are unhappy or depressed.

4.      Better mental health and have less depression, paranoia, and suicide.

5.      More self control and better coping skills.

b.      Successful relationships

1.      Study of 222 college students showed that the 10% most happy differed from the rest of the group in that they had a fulfilling social life and were rated the highest on good friendship by their friends.

2.      Study was done in 1990 by examining 141 senior photos of a 1960 yearbook and determining who had a genuine smile. Those without a forced smile were more likely to be married and stay married.

c.       Success in work

1.      More satisfied with their jobs, have higher job productivity, higher income due to favorable performance evaluations, and have more flow experiences at work.

B.     Consequences

a.       More likely to get sick, die younger, be mentally unhealthy, have a harder time staying in a relationship, have less success in work, and make less money.

C.     Objections

a.       Anti-hedonists believe that the enjoyment of life destroys itself in the long run by causing egotism and weakens moral consciousness.

b.      Having a positive outlook on life actually broadens worldly perception, not paralyzes it.

Signpost: Based on the benefits and consequences, achieving happiness is something that can truly turn your life around.

Conclusion

V. ACTION Step

Restate Central Idea and Summarize Main Points: Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can create happiness in your life which will bring positive changes to your health, relationships, and careers. I've given you a look into the problems caused by being unhappy, a step-by-step approach to reaching your happiness and full potential, and listed the benefits (whether internal or external) of being happy.

Provide Closure/Call to Action: One thing that is universally agreed upon is that happiness is desirable. So whether you're asking yourself, "Am I really happy?" or now know for a fact that you are, take this approach to achieving happiness and share it with friends, family, children, or anyone else in your life that may need a little boost. You only live once, why not live happy? As I stated before, only 69% of America's population claim to be truly happy making us the 14th happiest country in the world. Use this information and let's strive to be number one.

Pursuing Happiness [Conclusion]

     Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can create happiness in your life which will bring positive changes to your health, relationships, and careers. I've given you a look into the problems caused by being unhappy, a step-by-step approach to reaching your happiness and full potential, and listed the benefits (whether internal or external) of being happy.
     One thing that is universally agreed upon is that happiness is desirable. So whether you're asking yourself, "Am I really happy?" or now know for a fact that you are, take this approach to achieving happiness and share it with friends, family, children, or anyone else in your life that may need a little boost. You only live once, why not live happy? As I stated before, only 69% of America's population claim to be truly happy making us the 14th happiest country in the world. Use this information and let's strive to be number one.

Pursuing Happiness [Benefits]

     One of the greatest benefits of happiness is better health and longer life. In an age where illnesses and injuries are everywhere, it's always been important to do what we can to stay healthy like washing our hands, eating right, and exercising. 2,200 people over the age of 65 were tested for positive emotion and then tracked for two years. The end result of the study was that the happy people were 50% more likely to be alive and 50% less likely to become disabled. Researchers have also found that happy people endure pain better and have stronger immune systems, producing as much as 50% more antibodies than people who are unhappy or depressed. Happier people also have better mental health and have less depression, paranoia, and suicide. They also have more self control and better coping skills.
     In a chicken or egg-like scenario where people in successful relationships are happier, it's also true that happier people are better at being in a successful relationship. A study of 222 college students showed that the 10% most happy differed from the rest of the group in that they had a fulfilling social life and were rated the highest on good friendship by their friends. Another interesting study was done in 1990 by examining 141 senior photos of a 1960 yearbook and determining who had a genuine smile. Those without a forced smile were more likely to be married and stay married.
     Another thing that's important in our society is success in work. Happier people are more satisfied with their jobs, have higher job productivity, higher income due to favorable performance evaluations, and have more flow experiences at work.
     All of the most important areas of our lives are affected by how happy we are, so quite the opposite may happen if we are unhappy or depressed. We'd be more likely to get sick, die younger, be mentally unhealthy, have a harder time staying in a relationship, have less success in work, and make less money.
     Although happiness is desirable for almost everyone, there are the few that believe that happiness mustn't be achieved. Anti-hedonists believe that the enjoyment of life destroys itself in the long run by causing egotism and weakens moral consciousness. Studies have shown, however, that having a positive outlook on life actually broadens worldly perception, not paralyzes it.
     Based on the benefits and consequences, achieving happiness is something that can truly turn your life around.

Pursuing Happiness [Solution]

     Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is the theory introduced by Abraham Maslow in 1943 stating that people must fulfill basic needs before higher needs may be achieved. The "happiness" that's affected by meeting one's needs can be defined as, "...living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion." (website) Though it's a common belief that we must rely on other things to make us happy, such as income and the environment, only 10% of external factors are responsible for our happiness. However, 50% is made up of internal factors like attitude, outlook on life, relationships, and engagement in activities. These factors are what Maslow's theory seeks to improve.
    Before you can take anymore steps to achieving ultimate happiness, you must first meet the basic, or physiological, needs. These needs are things that are vital to survive such as food, water, air, sleep, and exercise. All other needs are secondary until these are met. These needs are also instinctual, so you can become more happy just by eating right, staying hydrated, and getting the right amount of sleep your body needs. Also, studies have shown that happiness can increase by 10-20% in 6 months by exercising for 20 minutes, 3 times a week.
     The next level of needs are security needs. Examples of these are shelter, steady employment, health insurance, and living in a safe neighborhood. Although it is a possibility to find happiness in hardships, it's been shown that the more civic liberty and just laws a country has, the more happy its inhabitants will be. At this stage of Maslow's Hierarchy, you don't necessarily have to enjoy the situation you're in, as long as these needs are met.
     As you continue to climb up Maslow's Hierarchy you enter into the higher-order needs starting with "Social." These include the needs for belonging, love, and affection in the form of romantic relationships, family, and friends. Having meaningful social ties and being in steady relationships are things that tend to make people happier. A 40 year old study conducted at Harvard proved that children that were hugged and cuddled more, or shown more affection, grew up to be the happiest.
     Next of the higher order needs is Esteem which includes your self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment. Respecting others and having others respect you are good ways of meeting your esteem needs. Achieving this step is important in happiness to enable you to live authentically, free from worrying about social pressures and the influence of peer opinions.
     Once you are okay with being yourself, the final step is to become self actualized. People in this stage are self aware, yearning for personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and are interested in fulfilling their full potential. Abraham Maslow describes the step of self actualization in his Theory of Human Motivation, "What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization...It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is capable of becoming." Individuals that are self-actualized often have peak experiences, or moments of flow, where they feel intense joy, wonder, and awe. After one of these moments, that person may feel inspired or renewed. The happiest people are those who do what they are passionate about regardless of financial gain, and this can be achieved once you have reached self-actualization.
     Although there are many happiness theories out there, Maslow's is the only one that provides you with a structured road map to achieve it. Even if you don't agree with his theory, here are some reasons to seek out happiness.

Pursuing Happiness [Problem]

     Unhappiness is a growing problem in the world where less than 65% of the population is happy. Among this, Americans are on average 69% happy where children are happy 52% of the time, neutral 29% of the time, and 19% of the time they're unhappy. 20-24 year-olds are sad 3.4 days per month and ages 65-74 on average are only sad 2.3 days per month. Along with the low amounts of happiness in the United States, one forth of the population is mildly depressed, depression being 3-10 times more common today than two generations ago.
     Unhappiness can bring about several illnesses that begin with stress related symptoms. Bronchial asthma is an illness in which the large air passage ways swell up causing a choking effect. Several studies have linked the onset of asthma attacks with anxiety, and relaxation techniques have been proven to delay and reduce the severity of the attacks. Another illness commonly associated with unhappiness is a headache. Two categories of headaches are tension and migraine. Tension headaches are caused by contracted muscles of the forehead, eyes, neck, and jaw, whereas migraines are more mental, caused by stress or the inability to express frustration. TMJ, a joint dysfunction illness, is a sign of constant contraction of jaw muscles, which is often done in times of stress or unhappiness. TMJ is hardly noticeable because it typically happens at night, shown by clenching or grinding teeth while asleep.
     Other common side-effects of unhappiness include problems in work, school, and relationships. According to (website) "Each year, depression affects at least 10 million people, often during their most productive years--between the ages of 25 and 44." The same article says, "In 1989, depression cost the nation an estimated...$17 billion...due to time lost from work. There is no way to estimate the total cost of lost productivity." Besides a decrease in productivity, other ways sadness can interfere with your work are problems with morale, lack of cooperation, having frequent accidents, absenteeism, and fatigue.
     "Approximately 4% - 12% of school-aged children (depending on the age) meet the criteria for being depressed..." This startling fact comes from (website). Sadness affects people in school in many of the same ways as it affects them in their jobs, but also includes an inability to focus and pay attention, failure to complete homework, lack of a drive to get to school, and an inhibition on peer relationships.
     Many of the above factors can also cause problems in relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. A few more things that lead to destroyed relationships are isolation, disinterest, being overly emotional, and short-temperament.
     Now that I've opened your eyes to some of the bigger problems caused by unhappiness in its many forms, I'll explain Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how it can be applied to optimize happiness.

Pursuing Happiness [introduction]

     "Happiness is a warm puppy," a famous quote in a book by Peanuts creator, Charles Shultz, that exemplifies the fact that, for each of us, happiness is something different. The one thing that can be agreed upon, however, is that it's something we'd all like to achieve. As 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mills claims, "Happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable as an end; all other things being only desirable as a means to that end." Basically stating that our ultimate goal is to be happy, and everything else we want are things that will help to achieve that happiness.
     Happier people, or people who are more optimistic about life and their future, are likely to make more money, have better job performance, are better suited to find opportunities for growth in their career, and have more stable relationships. Happiness also leads to a longer and healthier life. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides us with a step by step approach to happiness that will make the process of achieving it appear much easier.
     I first learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs during my junior year of high school as a theory that explained how to become self-fulfilled. It was reintroduced to me my senior year when learning about interior design and how certain design aspects can help one achieve that ultimate step of self-actualization. That was where I learned that this theory could be applied in almost any setting. However, it wasn't until this year that I was taught the connection between "self-actualization" and "happiness" and that when one has realized their full potential, that's when their happiness is at its peak. After this was brought to my attention I did some refined research on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it relates in the pursuit of happiness.
     Meeting your needs will establish happiness in your life and can bring positive changes to your health, relationships, and career.
     Today we will cover unhappiness and how it can cause problems within our bodies and our lives, the steps we can take to achieve happiness based on the theory of Abraham Maslow, and the benefits of living a happy life along with the consequences being unhappy can bring.
     I'm reintroducing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to you today to help solve some growing problems within ourselves and our world.