Self-actualization occurs when you move into the final
stages of human development. As far as theory is concerned it is unknown if
there are higher stages beyond that, but I suspect that would be based on
species evolution and capacity. Let us discuss what it means to be self-actualized
and how one gets there. It is something that can happen naturally for some but
for others it is often a goal even if they are not fully aware. We are designed
to strive to something greater and that is part of our development.
Higher States of Development
First, self-actualization is the highest known stages of
development based on understanding yourself fully and your environment more
deeply. You become yourself and while outside perspectives are a source of
knowledge you have moved beyond the purely socially constructed sense provided
society. That is important for minorities and non-minorities who struggle with
their full potential because less enlightened souls gave them misleading
feedback.
Developing human capital means freeing people to be the best
version of selves they can. Philosophers become philosophers, engineers become
engineers, artists become artists, etc. because those are their God given
talents and interests. Society reaps the rewards when people contribute based
on their ability the best they can.
The Struggles to Get There
Second, it is not possible to grow and develop unless one has faced struggles of some type that forced them to adapt. People just don't change as much as they should. Some of that is from lack of exposure, knowledge, educational, social exposure, etc. However, sometimes people change because they are faced with struggles and in order to survive, they must adapt upward. Solving problems until the day we die is the name of the game and you will get better at it if you put the effort in.
According to research, there are actual defined stages of
growth and each one forces the person to adapt or go back down. Only the
strongest can adapt to the top and they are a small few. Gifted people and
geniuses are known to adapt better because of the hardwiring of their brains.
While many people think they are self-actualized and have wisdom that is hardly
the case when the ego is part of that discussion. One must smash the false ego
for a more realistic one and only then after experience and insight can they
say they have made it...and then they understand the greater responsibilities
to society.
You can read the following to gain more insight....
Interestingly, A philosophical sense of humor was presented as correlated with self-actualization.
Kaufman, S. (2018) Self-Actualizing People in the 21st Century: Integration With Contemporary Theory and Research on Personality and Well-Being. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1-33. https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kaufman-self-actualization-2018.pdf
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