Levels of Function

Strategies that work well in one environment may work poorly in another. What’s most important is how well “synced” or “adapted” our personalities are to our current environment. This adaptation determines how well we function (a.k.a. meet our needs).

We can generally think about 5 broad levels of functioning:

• Survival: Certain strategies are so ineffective as to put our safety at risk – becoming a danger to ourselves or others. The goal at this level is to find a way to survive and get basic needs met (e.g. shelter and nourishment).

• Functioning: Once we’re able to survive, the next goal is to consistently do the basics required to stay healthy – like completing activities of daily living independently (e.g. sleep, movement, eating, hygiene, housing).

• Working: Once we’re consistently doing the basics, our next goal is to consistently engage productively with our communities – whether that’s in a relational role (mother, father, caregiver), a paid or volunteer role, or as a student. Our goal is to contribute our time each day to something we consider worthwhile.

• Thriving: Once we’re consistently working and contributing to our communities, our goal is to work well and to love well. At work, this often looks like building mastery through practice. In love, this often looks like cultivating intimacy and empathy in important relationships.

• Transcendence: Ultimately, when we are doing well, we reach a stage where our goals transcend ourselves and focus on empowering others to live their best lives. At this stage, our sense of self is so robust as to have excess love and work to give away.