Okay, I'm close to calling this experiment a failure. Not because I don't think it can work. Because I do think it can. It's just that I'm not sure I can artificially force myself to focus on one stage at a time.
For example, today, I'm tired, unhappy, hungry and generally upset. I know why I'm feeling this way and it mostly has to do with stage 3 concerns, as well as a little of stage 2. I'd like to fix it, but because of stage 2 concerns, obviously, I have to go to work. My boss doesn't really think "I'm doing an experiment which requires me to sleep more hours" is a great excuse, I'm sure. Actually, I doubt she'd notice if I was around at all, which is more of a stage 4 problem that I don't even want to tackle right now.
I suppose this is one of those things people say about the hierarchy all the time, that people can find happiness in one area and still not be fulfilled in the others. I honestly don't believe that's as true as people think, though. It's unfortunate that I don't have the option to start from scratch in life and just focus on one thing at a time, but I do think that if I did, I'd be happier. Unfortunately, when one area of the pyramid starts crumbling down, it has a tendency to take the rest of it with it. So, for me, being unhappy on level 3 has led to problems with 1 and 2.
On the other hand, maybe the problem is that I was artificially attempting to bring myself lower on the pyramid. I had problems with level 3 when I started and my ability to focus on the other things has been jeopardized by that from the start. Maybe this is the time to take stock of where I'm at in life and what I would want in order to feel fulfilled.
Level 1: Aching bones, tired and sick. I don't think I'm going to be able to get past much of this today. I need more sleep and rest in order to shake off whatever I'm sick with.
Level 2: Annoying financial things have come up lately. Primarily student loans. What's the point of submitting your IBR documents if they take 2 months to process? And in the interim, you have more student loans to pay? It's a problem. I've been doing better on physical security though.
Level 3: My lack of friends bothers me. It makes me think I have a mental illness because even crazy people have friends. Literal crazy people have people to go to movies with. I just have people who bitch and moan at me from time to time and refuse to make plans to do anything. I think I need a few superficial friends, but I'm not sure where to find them. I guess I could work on rekindling friendships with people I already know, but they're not looking so attractive lately.
Level 4: I usually look to work for fulfillment, but there's something terribly dissatisfying about having your supervisor refuse to answer your emails on a project that's due Monday. Especially when you know that if it doesn't go through, you're going to be the one to shoulder the blame and you worked all weekend and woke up early to get the stuff to her for her signature. Oh well. I'm sure she's busy. I just wish she could take 30 seconds to say, yes, please do this. Or, I suppose I could go forward and then be berated later.
Level 5: I've found this website to be super helpful in thinking about happiness. Of course, I'm not terribly happy, so what do I know? I also don't follow what the site says very well. It makes sense to me, though.
I guess the game plan from here is to spend the weekend pampering myself with sleep, good food and fluids. Then, from there, move on to level 2.
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