What human beings can be wrote the psychologist Abraham Maslow, they must be in the early 20th century
Psychologists were primarily concerned with the sicknesses that afflict the human mind
Abraham Maslow aware of this one-sided approach saw it as grossly inadequate if the goal of
Psychology is not just to rid us of illnesses
But also to help us flourish then an understanding of what constitutes optimal psychological health is crucial
It is as if Freud supplied us the sick half of psychology wrote Maslow, and now we must fill it out with the healthy half
Maslow's research led him to the conclusion that what demarcates the
Psychologically flourishing from the city and mediocre is the ability to self actualize in this video
We'll explore what it means to self actualize and examine. Why most people struggle at this all-important task
According to Maslow humans are driven to satisfy what he called a hierarchy of needs self-actualization
Occupies the pinnacle of this hierarchy and therefore we cannot begin to self actualize until we have satisfied our more basic needs
These basic needs include the things necessary for our survival such as food water
and shelter as well as those things required for a basic modicum of
Psychological health such as safety love status belongingness and self esteem
Only after these basic needs are satisfied. Can we begin down the path of?
Self-actualization and strive in the words of Maslow to become everything one is capable of becoming
Musicians must make music wrote Maslow artists must paint poets must write if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves
What human beings can be they must be they must be true to their own nature this need we may call
Self-actualization it refers to man's desire for self fulfillment namely to the tendency for him to become actually in what he is
potentially when we begin the process of self actualization
mastery of self becomes our way of life
We view our psyche as a vast unexplored terrain and are motivated to gain a greater knowledge of its inner depths
rather than being driven solely by wealth or status
We choose an ambitious and meaningful life mission as we strive to achieve our goals
we devote our energies to mastering the necessary skills and in the
We actualize our latent potentials as our life becomes increasingly structured around the need to self actualize
Maslow discovered that we become more susceptible to peak experiences
Self actualize enrolled Maslow have the wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again
Freshly and naively the basic goods of life with all pleasure wander and even ecstasy however stale these
Experiences may have become to others
Peak experiences have a deep therapeutic effect and can permanently transform our self-image in view of the world
while they cannot be voluntarily stimulated Maslow discovered that they arise spontaneously
In self actualize errs far more frequently than in the majority of the population
Implying that they are a byproduct of the personal growth that self actualize errs
Experience as they cultivate their skills and strive to realize their potential
Another trait shared by self actualize errs is their tendency to be free from the constricting need for social
Acceptance and the obsession many people have with social comparison
Rather than looking to others for approval or to social standards or authorities to determine how to live
Such individuals defer matters of judgment to their own conscience the French philosopher
Montaigne who exhibited this characteristic
Captured it in the following line from his essays
I have my own laws in my own court to judge me and I refer to these rather than elsewhere whereas Maslow explains
self actualize errs have become strong enough to be
independent of the good opinion of other people were even their affection
The honours the status the rewards the popularity the prestige and the love they can bestow must have become less
important than self development and inner growth
with this basic understanding of self-actualization
We are left with an important question if all of us can in principle self actualize
Why do so few of us end up doing so why in other words do most of us become more complacent?
Conformist a bitter and neurotic as we age rather than more individualized joyous creative and productive
Maslow spent much time deliberating this question and to answer it he suggested that there exist two regressive forces in the psyche which inhibit growth
We must understand he wrote that the dark forces are as normal as the growth forces
Most of us will claim that actual izing are potentials is something we desire to do in reality
We are often far more attracted by the easy path of safety and comfort we avoid challenges
Which would lead to personal growth?
Refuse to face up to our fears and remain passive in a manner which inhibits our capacity to self actualize
The pull of these regressive forces places us in a dangerous position
For if we allow ourselves to succumb to them then over time we will pay a steep price
Anxiety guilt shame and self-hate will manifest and torture us internally
But the presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that all is lost
Rather as Maslow suggests if we can learn to view these symptoms
Not as a sign that we are ill and in need of medication
But rather as a cry from the growth forces within warning us that a change in our life is needed
We will have taken the first step toward becoming a self actualize err and thus one of those rare individuals who succeed in being human
He who belies his talent wrote Maslow the born painter who sells stockings instead the intelligent man who lives a stupid life
The man who sees the truth and keeps his mouth shut
The coward who gives up his manliness all these people perceive in a deep way that they have done wrong to themselves and despise themselves
For it out of this self punishment may come only neurosis, but there may come renewed courage righteous indignation
Increased self-respect because of their after doing the right thing in a word growth and improvement can come through pain and conflict
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