How We Feel Safe in Life
Feeling safe is one of the most fundamental human needs. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, safety lies at the very base of the Hierarchy of Needs, just above physiological necessities like food and water [Maslow, 1943]. But in a world of unpredictability—social, economic, environmental—how can we cultivate an enduring sense of safety in our everyday lives? As philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Safety, too, is a paradox: though we long for certainty, life unfolds amid unpredictability.