American psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his concept of the hierarchy of needs in 1943. Psychology at the time was largely focused on helping people with mental problems. But Maslow was more interested in what motivates a healthy person and what makes them happy at a fundamental level.
The author himself did not use any geometric figures to show his model of motivation, however today it is usually presented as a pyramid. At its base are physiological needs, then come the needs for security, love and belonging to a community, respect and recognition. And finally, at the top is the need for self-actualization – the need to reveal one’s potential.
According to the original idea, we move to the next level of the hierarchy only after satisfying the needs of the previous one. However, later Maslow abandoned the strict sequence and divided all needs into two types. The first is the need for deficiency, for example hunger , when we feel a lack of food. The second is the need for development, for example the desire to improve in the professional sphere, when we feel that we are lagging behind our colleagues.
At the same time, self-actualization remains the most important need. And although Maslow believed that it does not have a universal formula, in his last book , The New Frontiers of Human Nature, he described eight behavior patterns that will help each person find a suitable option for self-realization and reach the top of the pyramid of needs.
1. Be present in the present
According to Maslow, people who have achieved self-actualization have an unconscious ability to immerse themselves in the present moment. They give themselves completely and fully to their experiences, vividly and selflessly, with deep concentration and involvement, without the self-doubt and embarrassment typical of adolescents .
In moments of such experiences, when we are focused on the present, we reveal our human essence. And these are the very moments of self-actualization in which our inner self reveals itself.
2. Be aware of your choice
Throughout the day, we are constantly faced with choices. Maslow believed that at each point, the choice can be progressive or regressive. And instead of instinctively choosing the least frightening option dictated by the need for safety, we should be aware of our capabilities and give preference to the option that promotes personal growth .
Self-actualization is a long-term, ongoing process. And it means that we must constantly make choices from a self-development perspective, such as whether to lie or remain honest at a certain moment.
3. Know yourself
Self-actualization is impossible without individuality, which needs to be actualized. A person, as Maslow believed, is not a piece of clay or plasticine, he already exists, he already has a temperament and a certain inner world.
So don’t look to society or family when it comes to what you should think and feel. Study your “I”, listen to your own inner voice – it will help you find yourself.
4. Be honest
Not all the time. Sometimes we need to be polite and diplomatic. But being honest, especially with ourselves, means taking responsibility. Every time we do this, we actualize ourselves.
5. Don’t worry about traditions
The more we study ourselves, the more often we can rely on our own opinion when making conclusions. Society often imposes certain values and tastes on us. That is why it is very important to understand what we really like and what suits us, and what does not.
Maslow emphasized that this path can make a person unpopular. However, understanding that you will not be liked by everyone if you rely on yourself, and learning to accept this, is part of self-actualization.
6. Continuously work on yourself
Self-actualization is not an end point, but a continuous and complex process of realizing possibilities at any moment in time and in any volume.
Becoming a mediocre musician or scientist is not the same as achieving self-actualization. To achieve that, you must strive to be the best at what you do, or at least as good as you can be.
7. Notice peak experiences
Maslow calls them short-term transitional moments of self-actualization. Each of us experiences something similar from time to time, but it is impossible to create such “magical” situations artificially.
The best thing you can do is to get rid of false beliefs and understand what possibilities you do not have the potential to realize. And then learn to recognize moments of peak experiences, because they help you notice true possibilities and point you in the right direction for self-actualization.
8. Work on your shortcomings
Personal growth is impossible without working on your weaknesses. On the way to becoming better, we encounter many defense mechanisms that we have to destroy. It is painful and difficult, but it must be done. According to Maslow, if psychoanalysis has taught us anything , it is that repression is not the best way to solve problems.
Although the need for self-actualization is natural for people, for many it is not a priority. And in this case, the pursuit of perfection (which is not the same as self-actualization) will bring nothing but suffering. Perhaps, if you consult with yourself and listen to your needs, you will understand that such a difficult and confusing search for yourself does not suit you. But the use of behavior models proposed by Maslow is unlikely to interfere with self-development in any case.