Abraham Maslow, humanist psychologist, coined the term self-actualization in the 1950s. It refers to the innate drive that motivates people to reach their full potential and become the best version of themselves.
I remember hearing the term in high school, and again in a college psychology class.
At the time, I thought, self-actualization sounds like an awesome life goal.
I came across the term again recently and decided to refresh my memory and renew my pursuit of this amazing state of being!
Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes different levels of human needs and how they motivate behavior in each of us.
Self-actualization is the highest level of human needs.
Maslow’s Theory suggests that we all have five basic categories of needs that must be met before we can achieve self-actualization.
These categories of needs are:
- Physiological needs: basic survival requirements, such as food, water, and shelter.
- Safety needs: what we need to feel safe and secure: includes physical safety, financial security, and stability.
- Love and belonging needs: these include social interaction, love, and companionship.
- Esteem needs: such as recognition and respect from others.
- Self-actualization needs: these are the final tier of goals, and include our need for personal growth, fulfillment of potential, and self-actualization.
Physiological and Safety Needs
One hopes that most of us are born into an environment that provides for our physiological and safety needs, though the sad truth is that this is often not the case.
Unfortunately, even those who are born into a safe and healthy environment do not always continue to enjoy the privilege in adulthood.
Those of us who are blessed with having these basic needs met can work towards the next level of needs in earnest.
Those who cannot depend on survival requirements and a safe, secure home must stay focused on meeting those needs, for obvious reasons.
Until those needs are met, it’s difficult if not impossible to explore personal growth at the next level.
Love, Belonging, and Esteem Needs
Love, belonging and esteem needs comprise the next tier of human needs for life satisfaction and self-actualization.
Clearly, we can all survive without love or feeling a sense of belonging, or having an environment that nurtures our self-esteem.
But life is a whole lot more pleasant when we have healthy relationships that help us to meet these needs, or when we are well adjusted enough to meet these needs from within.
The best case, of course, is for each of us to be self-sufficient in meeting this category of needs.
It is most healthy to have this sense of self-worth and identity internalized, and it also allows us to feel confident that changes in other people’s emotions or state of mind will not compromise our sense of love, belonging, and esteem.
Loving ourselves fully and unconditionally is challenging, however, it’s the best way for us to satisfy these needs.
And to position ourselves to move onward to the next level of life satisfaction – self-actualization.
Characteristics of Self-Actualization
Self-actualized people often display similar characteristics.
Think about the people you know.
Are there a few that stand out as the most well-adjusted, peaceful, content, people?
Chances are, they have achieved (or are close to achieving) a state of self-actualization.
And it’s likely that they display a few or more of these traits:
- Autonomy: They have a strong sense of independence and are not easily swayed by the opinions of others; they make their own decisions and do what they believe is right, whether their choices please others or not.
- Self-acceptance: They accept themselves for who they are, flaws and all and they have a positive but realistic self-image.
- Openness: They are open to new experiences and ideas and enjoy trying on new things for size. They’re not afraid to take risks and explore new possibilities nor are they bound by strict routines or schedules; they are comfortable with and able to adapt to change.
- Creativity: They are often innovative and are known for coming up with new ideas and solutions.
- Adept at Problem Solving: They are skilled problem-solvers and are able to think critically and objectively.
- Resilience: They’re resilient, able to bounce back from adversity and are not easily discouraged by failures. They learn from their mistakes.
- Peak experiences: Perhaps the trait that most sets apart self-actualized people from the crowd is that they have frequent “peak experiences“. These are moments of intense joy, wonder, and awe. Peak experiences can be triggered by anything, from a beautiful sunset to a spiritual epiphany.
How to Achieve Self-Actualization
Self-actualization is a lifelong process that requires self-reflection, hard work, and courage.
Achieving self-actualization means we have become self-aware and accept ourselves for who we truly are.
Though it’s not easy, self-actualization is something we can all aspire to.
Here are a few things we can all do to help achieve self-actualization:
- Set goals: We can all identify goals and work towards achieving them. Having goals also helps us stay focused and motivated.
- Be honest with ourselves: We all benefit from becoming more self-aware and acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses. This also helps us to identify areas for personal growth and improvement.
- Care for ourselves: We all thrive when we care for our physical, emotional, and mental health.
- Practice mindfulness: Doing our best to be mindful and be present in the moment and fully engaged in our surroundings helps us to be focused and calm, even in difficult situations.
Examples
As mentioned above, self-actualization is the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
To be self-actualized, we must have met all of our basic needs and be in a state of constant growth and learning.
Here are some examples of what self-actualized people do:
- Pursue Passions: Self-actualized people pursue their passions. They find something they love and enjoy doing, and they do it! Pursuing passions helps us achieve a state of flow. Nurturing these behaviors is consistent with a self-actualized mindset.
- Embrace Individuality: Another example of a self-actualized behavior is embracing our individuality. When we accept and love ourselves for who we are, we can live authentically and confidently. This means being true to ourselves, even if it’s not what others expect or want from us.
- Find Meaning in Life: Self-actualized people find meaning and purpose in life beyond just making a living or achieving material success. They may find fulfillment in helping others, contributing to society, or pursuing a spiritual practice.
- Live in the Present: Self-actualized people live in the present moment and appreciate the beauty of everyday life. They don’t dwell on past regrets or worry about the future. They focus on what they can control and enjoy the present moment.
- Seek Growth: People who are self-actualized seek to learn and grow, whether it’s through reading, taking classes, or trying new things. They are open-minded, curious, and willing to take risks.
How This All Relates to Happiness
Self-actualization is an essential component of achieving happiness.
It is easy enough to understand, since self-actualization, as described above, is achieving the ultimate realization of one’s full potential.
What bears repeating is that self-actualization is not a one-time event.
It’s a dynamic process that continues throughout our lives.
There are many reasons that self-actualization aligns to a state of happiness and personal well-being.
- When we are self-actualized, we are living a life that is authentic, fulfilling, and meaningful. We are able to express creativity, pursue passions, and contribute to society in a way that feels aligned with our purpose. What’s not to love about this, right?
- Self-actualization also involves exploring new ideas, taking on challenges, and gently, but continually, pushing ourselves beyond our limits. Good stuff here that also keeps both our mind and body healthy!
- The process of self-actualization requires us to take full responsibility for our life and to make conscious decisions that align with our values and aspirations. This practice is perhaps the most useful and important. Living our true lives helps us to maintain a positive state of mind and mental health.
Not surprisingly, studies have shown that people who are self-actualized experience higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
This is due to many factors.
Perhaps the most essential is that self-actualized people have a clear sense of purpose and direction and are able to live a life that is in line with their values and aspirations.
How to Achieve Self-Actualization
Self-actualization is a journey that requires self-reflection, self-awareness, and personal growth; it is also a life-long, dynamic process that will keep us happily challenged and inspired.
We can all seek to become more self-actualized by adopting a growth mindset while we work to nurture our creativity, spontaneity, and curiosity.
We can take other specific actions to improve our self-actualization potential, such as:
- Set clear goals that align with our values and aspirations and go after them with our heart and soul.
- Take time to reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and honor our true selves with our action.
- Be open to new experiences and challenges and embrace new challenges with abandon.
- Build positive relationships with others and do all we can to nurture them.
- Practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment and find beauty in the everyday miracles that surround us.
Here’s to all of us embracing these practices of self-reflection and self-discovery to continue to work towards become our best, most authentic, and self-actualized selves.
Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a health care executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant. The common thread through Joan’s professional life has been a commitment to lead, mentor and coach current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach provides information and advice grounded in Joan’s personal experience; however, all articles are backed by research and provide facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan also serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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