Domains & Levels

The domain of the self naturally involves aspirations that concern oneself. These begin with the need for psychological safety, the need to protect the self. Once we feel safe, we can begin to explore and express our individuality, which is the need for authenticity. Once we feel safe and authentic, we can grow toward the fulfillment of our personal potential, the highest need of the self-domain.

The material domain is the physical world of objects and things. It is the home of both work and play, and begins with the need for autonomy, the drive to have both the capability and authority to take effective action in the material world. Once we have a sense of autonomy, we can immerse ourselves in activity, which is the need for immersion or flow. Once we feel both empowered and productive, we can proceed to achieving material success or achievement, the highest need of the material domain.

The social domain is the world of relationships with other people. Needs here begin with the need to feel a sense of belonging or connection, that we are included and accepted by our group. Once included, we can develop strong, intimate, mutually satisfying relationships, which is the need for caring. Feeling included and caring/cared for provides the platform for social recognition, validation, affirmation, and respect, which is the highest need of the social domain.

The spiritual domain is the world of concepts, ideals, and principles. It begins with a basic need for justice and fairness, the knowledge that good deeds are rewarded, and bad deeds are punished. Once we feel that we live in a basically fair system, we can strive to limit the self- interest of ourselves and others; balancing the needs of the planet and our society with self- interest is the essence of the need for ethics. Once we are living in accordance with justice and ethics, we can strive for a transcendent higher purpose, one that leaves self-interest behind.

The foundational level of attainment is the point of entry into each of the life domains. It is the most basic and fundamental need that supports development within each domain. The needs for safety, autonomy, inclusion, and justice provide the foundations for the self, material, social, and spiritual domains, respectively.

The experiential level of attainment is the midpoint of the life domains, between pure potential and its full realization or actualization. It represents a process of transformation and action. To get from safety to living up to your potential, we must establish our unique identities (authenticity). To get from autonomy to material success, we must immerse ourselves in our work. To get from inclusion to recognition, we must form lasting relationships. To get from basic fairness to a higher purpose, we must actively limit our self- interest (ethics).

The aspirational level of attainment is the capstone need of the life domains. It represents the desired endpoints of each of the life domains. The endpoint for the self-domain is fulfilling our full potential; in the material domain, it is achievement of material success; in the social domain, it is achieving high regard and admiration; in the spiritual domain, it is transcending self-interest in pursuit of a higher mission, quest, or purpose.