The Painful Pinch of 50: A Late Realisation of Maslow and the Vedic Way

As we inch closer to the half-century mark in life, many of us—especially those familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs—begin to feel a certain existential Crisis. It's not just age catching up rather a big emotional melodrama unfolding. It's a deep, soul-searching ache that signals a misalignment—a life perhaps not lived in harmony with our truest aspirations. And it's customized to hurt. Because when we’ve not managed our life well, the body may age gracefully, but the soul protests.

Maslow's pyramid of human motivation and our own Vedic system of life stages bear striking similarities. In Vedic tradition, life is divided into four stages:

1. Brahmacharya (Student)

2. Grihastha (Householder)

3. Vanaprastha (Forest Dweller/Hermit)

4. Sannyasa (Renunciate)

Similarly, Maslow guides us from physiological needs, through safety, love, esteem, and finally to self-actualization. The striking parallel is not just in the structure, but in the journey—a journey of becoming more, of rising above survival and ego to reach the peak of purpose and peace.

But here’s where the imbalance begins. When we climb to the upper tiers—esteem and actualisation—but are forced to return to the lower tiers to monetise basic needs left unattended, it causes internal chaos. Self-esteem takes a beating. The male ego, conditioned to build and conquer, now finds itself cornered, nailed, and stripped of identity.

This switch, if abrupt, can be catastrophic. The spirit resists. Depression creeps in. We begin to tumble down the ladder of self-realisation. To battle this, we often pivot—exploring new fields, new ventures, new versions of ourselves. But every field comes with its own game of snakes and ladders. Every step forward tests our resilience.

And so, the key becomes clear: patience and perseverance. Not everything lost is a defeat, and not every delay is denial. We must accept the transformation, even if it’s painful. Because in acceptance lies the first seed of growth. Yes, I may sound philosophical, but this is more than theory—this is lived truth. A realisation, though late, is still a realisation. And maybe, just maybe, that’s where the journey begins again.

So to those approaching 50: breathe. Reflect. Realign. Let go of what wasn’t, and step fully into what still can be. The climb may have changed, but the summit still waits.