Self-Actualisation: What it Can Mean for You

What does it mean to be a self-actualised? And how do you become self-actualised? Understanding your mission in life, your potential, capacity and talent and acceptance of who you are: - Maslow's 'hierarchy of needs' considers the basic foundations that individuals need to achieve self-actualisation.

The concept of self-actualisation was discovered by psychologist, Abraham Maslow, through research that aimed to focus on the positive aspects of people, rather than solely focusing on the negative symptoms that they were experiencing with their mental health.

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow became well-known for his 'hierarchy of needs' - which outlines his theory that humans all have basic needs:

1. Physiological needs

2. Safety needs

3. Belonging and love needs

4. Esteem needs

5. Self-actualisation needs

I, and many others, don't agree that one need always needs to be met before moving onto the other, because we all have these needs all of the time. But the whole idea does

sound reasonable - you aren't going to be so worried about morality when you're starving, or be thinking about increasing self-esteem if you're not feeling safe.

Maslow saw a difference in people motivated by growth needs vs basic needs. All of the needs below self-actualisation are basic needs.

When these needs aren't being met, we feel that something is missing and this can make us feel tense and anxious.

Once we have all of our basic needs met though, we move our attention towards growth needs. When we're focused on growth needs, we're not motivated by what people think - we're driven by something inside of us.

Self-Actualisation Definition

Maslow defined self-actualisation as the ongoing actualisation of potentials, capacities and talents; fulfilment of mission; a fuller knowledge of, and acceptance of, your own intrinsic nature; and a trend toward unity and integration within yourself. It's basically just the need to become, what you have the potential to be.

Thankfully, we don't have to have all of our basic needs met before we are able to reach self-actualisation, but it'll certainly help if you aren't spending your time feeling tension and anxiety.

Characteristics of Self-Actualised People

1. Superior perception of reality

An unusual ability to judge others accurately and detect dishonesty. This enables the capacity to make good decisions.

2. Increased acceptance of self, others and of nature

Being accepting of their nature, including shortcomings and contradictions

3. Increased spontaneity

Being more spontaneous in their lives and thoughts, with simplicity marking their behaviour

4. Increase in problem-centring

More focused on problems outside of themselves as opposed to personal issues.

5. Increased detachment and desire for privacy

They're comfortable being themselves without the need to always be around people. They like solitude and privacy generally more than others.

6. Increased autonomy and resistance to enculturation

Motivated by a drive for internal growth, they're more focused on developing their potential. In contrast, the average person is motivated by social and/or cultural forces

7. Greater freshness of appreciation and richness of emotional reaction

They can appreciate the inherent elements of life with wonder, like looking at a sunset with admiration.

8. Higher frequency of peak experiences

Maslow believed that everyone has intense experiences where there is a loss of self, or where you transcend from it, but that self-actualising people experienced it more often.

9. Increased identification with the human species

Maslow believed that humans develop from being identified exclusively with themselves, or egocentrically, to identification with a group - this may be a family, religious group, or identification with all of humanity.

10. Improved interpersonal relations

They become capable of greater love and they have deeper relationships. But they may only form deeper bonds with a select few individuals.

11. More democratic character structure

They are friendly with anyone of decent character regardless of class, education, political belief, race, or color - because they identify more closely with the human species and are less determined (or unaware of) these classifications.

12. Increased creativeness

They have an increased creative expression. This isn’t a special talent that took years to develop, but rather a playful and spontaneous creative expression often found in young children.

13. Changes in the value system

With their acceptance of reality, nature and themselves, they establish a firm value structure. With appreciation and acceptance, our problems are often seen as gratuitous.

Maslow emphasised that these characteristics are interconnected - one building upon another or impacting the other.

Examples of Self-Actualised Behaviour

1. Finding humour in a situation

2. Getting enjoyment and satisfaction out of the present moment

3. Understanding what they need to have to get a sense of fulfilment

4. Tendency to feel unashamed and/or insecure about who they are

How to Achieve Self-Actualisation

1. Focus on the present

Making a concerted effort to focus on your current surroundings, thoughts, feelings and behaviours, rather than focusing on the past or future can contribute to a feeling of peace and more spontaneous behaviours.

2. Live outside of yourself

Knowing yourself is key to self-actualisation, but so is the ability to focus beyond yourself. Focusing on empathy and kindness towards others, and being grateful each day can help to achieve this.

3. Being Authentic

When you’re aware of and aligned with your needs, capabilities and quirks - you’re better able to embrace them.

4. Do what makes you happy

Closely aligned with the previous point, identifying and doing what brings joy to your life can help you be more authentic and bring you more happiness. Start incorporating what you love doing into your life.

As a concept, self-actualisation is present in both Eastern and Western philosophies and religions and has been around for a very long time. However, Western cultures tend to believe that is a state to be achieved through meeting other states, and Eastern cultures tend to focus on the removal of artificial layers of personality, or becoming enlightened with knowledge of the true self.

Whatever the case, being aware of what self-actualisation is can provide you with direction and motivation. Start incorporating the four steps above to achieve self-actualisation!