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In this illuminating episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the rarely discussed—but profoundly important—final stage of Maslow’s thinking: transcendence.

Most people know Maslow for the “hierarchy of needs” pyramid, but as Tom reveals, Maslow never created a pyramid at all. And he certainly never stopped at self-actualization. At the end of his career, Maslow emphasized something deeper: a movement beyond the self into a state of connection, meaning, creativity, and belonging.

Together, Tom and Ruth unpack:

• Why Maslow’s hierarchy was never meant to be a pyramid
• How transcendence connects “me” to “we” and restores our sense of belonging
• Why love, awe, creativity, and community are essential components of wellness
• How “us and them” thinking blocks transcendence and fragments our humanity
• Why every organism in nature thrives through interdependence—and what humans can relearn from that
• A practical way to check if your needs are being met or if you’re stuck in fight-or-flight

Transcendence isn’t mystical or unreachable. It’s the human experience of rising above survival, reconnecting to the larger web of life, and rediscovering the joy of being part of something bigger.

If you’re seeking deeper meaning, grounded wisdom, and a more holistic understanding of what it means to thrive, this episode offers a powerful and refreshing perspective.

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Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

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In this special birthday episode, Tom and Ruth explore what it really means to thrive as a whole human being. Building on their series about the fundamentals of wellness and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, they dive into the top of the hierarchy—self-actualization—and why it’s never just about “me.”

Together they unpack how homeostasis—that dynamic state of balance in body, mind, and spirit—is both personal and collective. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, somatic practice, and ecology, Tom explains how true wellness emerges when our physiological, emotional, and relational needs are met within connection—not isolation.

From the wisdom of Kurt Goldstein and Abraham Maslow to the biology of “many little lives” within us, this conversation reframes self-actualization as thriving through interconnectedness.

💫 Highlights:

• Why wellness is homeostasis—and what that looks like in everyday life
• How the me-we perspective transforms the way we pursue growth
• The hidden sixth layer of Maslow’s hierarchy—transcendence
• Practical steps for activating the body’s natural capacity to restore balance

Join Ruth and Tom as they celebrate wisdom, connection, and the lifelong journey from surviving to thriving.

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!

Send us a text

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson continue their exploration of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs through the lens of wellness and trauma-informed wholeness. Focusing on esteem, they unpack what it truly means to “appraise” value—both in ourselves and in others—and how unmet needs and trauma can distort our perception of worth and significance.

Through rich conversation and powerful metaphors—like Tom’s image of humans as uncut diamonds—they reveal how esteem isn’t about hierarchy or status, but about mutual recognition of inherent worth. Together, they examine how physiological, safety, and belonging needs act as catalysts for healthy esteem, and how unmet needs can keep us stuck in cycles of comparison, defensiveness, or exclusion.

Listeners will come away with deeper insight into:

• The roots of esteem as appraisal rather than judgment
• How trauma and unmet needs shape our ability to value ourselves and others
• The difference between worth, significance, and accomplishment
• How to move from sympathetic fight-or-flight into parasympathetic homeostasis
• Practical reflection prompts for fostering self-worth and mutual significance

Join Ruth and Tom as they guide listeners toward restoring homeostasis of esteem, a crucial step in the broader journey toward self-actualization and holistic wellness.

🎧 Listen now and rediscover your worth as an uncut diamond in a world learning to see again.

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!