Was Maslow Right About What We Need?
Why Self-Actualization Might Be the Starting Point, Not the Top
The other day, I laughed out loud when another dear friend of mine took the Divine Quotient™ Quiz and landed squarely in the top tier. I told her, “Of course you did — you’re vibing higher than any bird is flying!”
But it got me thinking…
It’s no coincidence that nearly all of my closest, most conscious friends have scored in the top tier. And it’s not because we’re special or enlightened or perfect (spoiler: we’re definitely not). It’s because we’ve been doing the work to live in alignment with who we really are, and that’s what the DQ measures.
So today, I want to pull back the curtain on how and why I created the Divine Quotient™ Quiz, what your score reveals, and why this “inner currency” might just be the most important thing we can track in this next chapter of humanity.
Why I Created the Divine Quotient™ Quiz
During my Positive Psychology training over 10 years ago, I was introduced to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — a model outlining five levels of human needs, from basic survival all the way up to self-actualization.
Here’s how Maslow breaks it down:
Physiological Needs – air, water, food, sleep, shelter, (and reproduction — although some of us women might debate that one)
Safety Needs – personal security, employment, health, resources
Love and Belonging – friendship, intimacy, family, connection
Esteem – self-worth, respect, recognition, status
Self-Actualization – the desire to become the best version of yourself
I found this model insightful — and yet, I also felt something deeper tugging at me. While Maslow was right about the importance of meeting our basic needs (food, water, shelter), I couldn’t help but question the order of things.
What if self-actualization wasn’t just a final destination? What if it could actually be the starting point for a whole new way of living?
Because I’ve witnessed time and again, in my own journey and in those I work with, that when we align with our Divine Intelligence, we start naturally fulfilling the other levels of need. We eat better. We build more conscious relationships. We regulate our nervous systems. We stop chasing approval and start embodying self-worth.
That’s why I built the DQ Quiz around Maslow’s 15 Characteristics of Self-Actualization, but through a spiritual lens. These characteristics, things like autonomy, gratitude, purpose, truth-seeking, compassion, and playfulness, aren’t about being perfect. They’re reflections of how whole and present we feel. They’re signs of alignment with our Divine Self.
So How Does the Quiz Work?
The quiz uses a simple 1–5 scale to assess how often you're living in alignment with those self-actualized traits, which I interpret as indicators of your Divine Quotient™.
It’s not a personality test. It’s not here to label you. It’s a mirror. It’s a snapshot of where you are in your Spirit-Mind-Body alignment right now.
Think of it as a compassionate check-in, a way to tune into your inner world and ask:
“Am I leading from fear... or from Spirit?”
The 3 Tiers of the Divine Quotient™ — And What They Reveal
No matter where you land, this is not about judgment. It’s about awareness, empowerment, and soul-level insight. Here's what each tier reflects:
Divinely Aligned (High DQ)
You’re living from your Divine Intelligence. Spirit leads, Mind follows, Body expresses. You’ve likely done deep inner work and developed strong emotional awareness, spiritual connection, and intuitive trust. You’re not perfect, but you’re aligned, open, and walking in your truth.
You’re not just surviving. You are radiating.
Waking Up (Mid DQ)
You’re doing the work. You’re awakening. You’re seeing the patterns and learning to pause before reacting. Your Spirit is whispering louder now and you’re building the self-trust to listen. Sometimes the mind still runs the show, but you’re reclaiming the reins.
You’re in the sacred middle, keep going. There’s beauty in the stretch.
Needs Realignment (Low DQ)
You may be feeling stuck, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed. Your nervous system might still be operating from survival mode and that’s okay. You’re exactly where you need to be now. You’re being invited into deeper alignment, into a new way of being.
The first step is awareness and you’ve already taken it.
What Negative Emotions Are Actually Telling You
Here’s the truth: fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, limiting beliefs, and stress are not flaws. They are Divine Debug Alerts, just information.
They’re like internal system flags letting you know that your Spirit-Mind-Body code is out of sync. They’re not proof that you’re failing. They are messages that something in your inner architecture wants to be seen, loved, and realigned.
When we start to understand emotions this way, we stop shaming ourselves for having them and start listening to what they’re trying to show us. This is where healing can begin.
The New Currency of Humanity
Here’s my deeper vision…
As the world continues to shift, I believe we’re being called to redefine what we value. Not just in business or relationships, but in life itself.
We’re watching more people leave high-paying jobs in exchange for peace and purpose. Entrepreneurs are shifting from hustle to healing. Organizations are being rebuilt around heart, soul, and alignment.
And I believe our Divine Quotient™ — our ability to live in peace, love, joy, compassion, forgiveness, freedom, and clarity, will become the new currency of humanity.
In this new world, success won’t be measured by how much we accumulate, but by how deeply we live, how present we are, and how lovingly we show up for ourselves and others.
Reflection Invitation
Take a moment to tune in:
Where are you already living in Divine alignment?
Where might fear or old programming still be running the show?
What would shift if you valued your inner peace as much as your external success?
Ready to Check Your DQ?
Whether you're just beginning or deeply on the path, your score is simply a starting point for deeper awareness.
No matter what “tier” you land in, welcome to the DQ Club! We’re a fun bunch of Sacred Misfits, remembering who we are and co-creating a more aligned world together.
How you’ll feel
More Whole, Happy, Peaceful, & Hopeful About Your Future
“For women who want to be reminded of their own value or taught how to capitalize on their unique talents, and especially to women who are holding themselves back in their careers or personal lives because of what people might think, I recommend you talk to Tilde.”
-Avery Carmen
