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Tags: health, wellness, meditation, self actualization
 Think of Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. What do they have in common? The most basic you can perhaps recall is that these people have achieved much – they rendered much for the upliftment of humanity. According to Abraham Maslow’s standards, these three are among the handful who have self-actualized.
And what is the state called self actualization? Maslow was a renowned psychologist who devised the “Hierarchy of Needs”. He stated that it is inherent for all of us to be driven to fulfill our highest potentials. Achieving this state- fulfilling our highest potentials- is a person’s ultimate goal in life.
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In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, those physical in nature constitute the lowest rung. These physical needs include food, sex and similar pursuits. Those of our baser instincts, so to speak. Stepping up to the next level, a person will then be concerned of providing for their safety. This relates to our need for security and to be free from harm.
Moving further up, one would then pursue the need for love and belongingness. Esteem needs come next in the level of personal “essentials”. It speaks for the desire to be admired and respected. And then the felt necessity for cognitive and aesthetic fulfillment. The cognitive aspect is associated with our craving for more knowledge, while the aesthetic has to do with the innate desire to experience and express beauty.
At the pinnacle of the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are self-actualization needs. Self actualization is the ultimate goal of human beings, or it ought to be. But what hinders a person from fully actualizing himself? Self actualization may not be attained because a person fails to proceed from their lower level needs.
They may have remained wedged to their baser necessities because they have yet to exhaust the pleasure gained from lower level requirements. Contentment, or the lack of it may be another issue. A person may want more and more of the experience of a certain subordinate need that they would not want to proceed.
But what of Einstein, Lincoln and Roosevelt? What set them apart from the majority which made them attain self actualization? These prominent personalities shared certain characteristics. They were independent from other’s influence and opinions. They perceived reality objectively and were spontaneous and accepting of themselves. As much as they were high achievers, they did not cease to appreciate the mundane.
Compassion for humanity was an ideal they highly regarded. Healthy interpersonal relationships were vital to them as well as immense focus on tasks and goals pursued. Even these outstanding characters possessed sense of humor, but it was not rude or offensive. These traits enabled these people to achieve self actualization more easily.
Self actualization is not at all synonymous with being perfect. Abraham Lincoln had actualized himself yet was besieged by depression. Nevertheless, he and a selected number of actualized individuals remained humble despite having exceptional achievements. They were categorized in the roster of great personalities but considered themselves as normal people.
In the most basic understanding of self actualization, it is about becoming more honest with yourself. It is a process of accepting yourself and the people around you wholeheartedly. Being content of whichever state in life you are, and living it to the fullest. You live and savor life and its experiences with vigor and inspiration.
And in its truest sense, the way to self actualization is that of wonder, beauty and contemplation.
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About the author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose recently published a step-by-step guide on how to lose weight the EASY way and become totally healthy and happy. More info on her life-changing eating habits plan HERE.
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