I Don't Think I'd Quite Call It Striving

The meaning of self-actualization is a little different for me. It goes beyond "morality, creativity, spontaneity, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts."

I found this definition that explains what it means to me and what I was thinking about when I used the word striving in the group experience name:


"Self Actualization is looking at the world in a holistic manner that allows one to reach for their highest path and highest potential without any attachment to success or reward. When deficiency needs are met, people tend to operate out of Being needs (Maslow). Being needs are gratified with love and enhancing one's potential and, are no longer concerned with ego gratification. Self actualizing individuals no longer look at the world as right and wrong but how the "wrongs" can be very right. This includes the ability to 'self-care'. "Draw first from the well to nourish and give to yourself, then there will be enough to nourish others." Self actualizing individuals carry the transparency of an enlightened being ... lighted from within and allowing that light to shine through.

Self Actualization is not merely a trait or characteristic ... it is a description of the whole person in process ... (Jacquie Small). It is the process of being fully in the moment, without self-consciousness. We do for the sake of doing not for the perception of others. The self actualizing person is able to sort personal feelings and values from an unexamined belief system. This individual listens more to personal internal voices of truth and less to noises of culture, society and the world. Arduous preparation becomes common as values change or direction alters. This preparation leads to greater self actualization.

A Self Actualizing person begins to experience "peak experiences" which are recognized moments of ecstasy, or mystical experience. Peak experiences are those moments that bring tears to the eyes from the bliss of the moment, those moments in which the ordinary can become instantly sacred ... love, music, art, poetry, a sunrise, birth, compassion ... other joy-full moments. Then these moments begin to be a part of ordinary experience. The peaks become the norm for the self actualizing person."

I am striving to attain this.

That's a great expansion Datura. I wanted to include a brief intro in the story for others who (like me, 2 years ago) had never come across the concept - so I just copied that line straight from the 'pyramid' of needs. Thank you for putting in the extra text!

Just for the sake of argument, do you think that it's actually necessary to strive to become self-actualized? Striving for something would seem to be a little uncharacteristic of a self-actualized individual - that's just my superficial take on it.

I rather like the idea of having all the other needs met, being aware of the general direction required, and then having it just happen.

I think it is a matter of semantics, rojblake.
Again, I will resort to a definition:


Strive
1 : to devote serious effort or energy : endeavor
2 : to struggle in opposition : contend

I believe I am using the word as the first meaning and you are using it as the second.

No, I think I had the first meaning in mind too. It just seemed to me that self-actualization would of itself be a pleasurable enough state that it would not seem like a serious effort or energy was required to sustain it.

As dautra has said so well, humanistic psychology, which Maslow is the founding father of, is about the belief in human goodness, wholeness and potential. Reaching what Malsow describes as self actualization is about meeting each need and being motivated to move further on, using a holistic approach to the development of self fulfillment. However his concept does have limitations, not all fall into his framework as not everyone reaches each stage or does them in that order. Reaching your potential is also a relative concept in itself, we all have a different view of where we are and where we want to be. Though it is still a good generalization maximising human potential, and an understanding of many people in their situations. But as for human motivation I am not sure it works for evveryone.

I'll refer again to the second paragraph of my first comment. Again, this is a quote and not my words:

"Self Actualization is not merely a trait or characteristic ... it is a description of the whole person in process ... (Jacquie Small). It is the process of being fully in the moment, without self-consciousness. We do for the sake of doing not for the perception of others. The self actualizing person is able to sort personal feelings and values from an unexamined belief system. This individual listens more to personal internal voices of truth and less to noises of culture, society and the world. Arduous preparation becomes common as values change or direction alters. This preparation leads to greater self actualization."

To me self-actualization is a process. It is not a grace that is just bestowed upon the lucky person who has all other needs met. It requires effort and the direction of our personal energy to remain fully centered in the present moment, to keep the ego in check, to live from self-referral rather than depend upon the opinions of others for our worth.

Maybe it is all semantics Datura - check this sentence out:

"It is the process of being fully in the moment, without self-consciousness."

I really don't think that if you're enjoying what you're doing, finding satisfaction from what you are doing and your own value system, rather than those of others, that it will be a difficult thing to continue to do.

If you are self-consciously trying to fend off your ego and the opinions of others then yes, perhaps you need to strive but perhaps you're also not quite there yet.

I also don't believe that it is a grace, rather my thinking is that if it is not of itself a pleasurable and satisfying state to maintain, it also might not be worth striving for.

Anyway, I don't know much, but I'm enjoying this conversation with you.

You remind me a lot of my kid brother, rojblake! And, no, I won't explain that remark ;-)

That's what I mean by it being a process. I doubt that anyone is self-actualized all the way all the time! I am not happy when my ego is making me feel superior or inferior or judgmental or petty. I am happy when I am fully present with the moment and going with the flow and feeling one with all. It is a much better feeling.

And self-referral isn't a fending off of the opinions of others. It is that I don't allow the opinions of others to define me or harm me or bother me. When I can honestly say, hey, it's their trip and that's their opinion and it has no meaning for me then I am happier. And sometimes I can honestly say that. Sometimes I can't. When I can't, I am less happy and at peace.

A moment of peak experience is awesome and I find these moments when doing my artwork, when being in nature, when meditating, listening to music.

It is a pleasurable and satisfying state, but due to our conditioning from childhood on, it requires attention and awareness to maintain from my way of thinking.

Hey, I don't know much either, but I too am enjoying this conversation.

very interesting....

Hi Datura, I can't resist this: Your kid brother must be cool :)

Attention and awareness - but not striving... I'll say no more...

I'm grateful to you for creating this group. It has saved me the dithering and wondering about what to call it that would go along with such an important task.

I'd like to know - how long after joining EP did you create this group?