Does anyone else feel that self-actualisation is unachievable, and the whole concept is setting us up to fail?
Answers:
I think the concept of self-actualization is pretty strange. The term was coined by Abraham Maslow, who did a lot of good work in Humanistic Psychology. His "Hierarchy of Needs" is a useful tool for understanding what people need at a particular point in time. Self-Actualization is on the top of Maslow's pyramid, and presumably it is something that only few people can achieve. I guess in one sense, striving towards self-actualization is great, but on a practical level, its not much different than striving for self-improvement. Somehow the idea of a person being "Self-actualized" or "enlightened" has a narcissistic ring to it, which is the exact opposite of what a self-actualized person should be. I think that there are many people out there who have had remarkable spiritual journeys in their life, but I think if you ask them, they would deny feeling self-actualized, I think they would be too busy doing good things with their life than to worry whether or not they have achieved some arbitray milestone called actualization.
Nope, I sure don't. But if you want to become self actualized, then you'll have to change you attitude. The key is thinking can, not can't. If you think you can't do something, then you probably won't.
No I dont feel so.
I believe in 'self-actualisation' i went back to education 11 years ago and since then i have 'self-actualised' and yes at time i have 'failed' as you put it, but i brushed myself down and continued forward... it is in our nature to actualise to the best of our ability
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I think that it depends on the goals you set yourself and on how you veiw the 'journey', I mean, nobody can ever achieve total self actualistion so why worry to much about where you are on your measure of the journey, that you are consciously travelling towards it is a considerable step.
Sorta chill out and go with your process . :-) .
Absolutely. By the time you get through the other stages, somthing else will break. Being unsatisfied with something is what makes us human.
OH WOW, I love your question---you are talking about Maslo. No, we are not setup for failure, self-actualization is achievable. Every time you achieve your goal you are reaching for the peak of self-actualization. Check Maslo's pyramid and carefully seek to improve each and every step, you will grow and you will stumble, but the objective is to continue in an upward growth. You cannot have it all, because some of it is "outside" your control, but still continue working on it. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to achieve self-actualization. But remember, when you achieve it, you are ready for another challenge somewhere in the pyramid, self-improvement, other's esteem, love, etc etc etc. There is much being unsaid and undone in just this one answer here, one could exchange hours and hours on this upward road to achievement. Remember one thing: see "failure" as a tool of/for improvement. How I would like to converse with you, but suffice this to be my only communique, I prefer to remain anonymous.
Self-actualizing something out of your comfort zone happens everyday from waiting in a long queue to watch a thrilling movie to washing your car under the sizziling hot sun just to clean some bird dung stained on it earlier.
It depends on how much you want it -- or how much you don't want it. These are self-actualizations that are taken for granted.
And yeah you are right, we basically desire to achieve self-actualization upon something we have not yet attained. Once it has -- we disregard it no more as self-actualization, and then move on to another higher target to self-actualize.
Yes perhaps you can say we set ourselves to fail because all of our desires can never be satisfied.
Success and failure are determined by goals and objectives. If you acheieve your objectives, have you failed?
What frightens me about things like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs or the Myer's-Briggs Type Indicator is how literally people take these concepts! They are meant to get you to think, not create new stereotypes in which to box yourself!
It is not so much meant for the high acheiver to look at what more they could accomplish (potentially a never-ending journey), but to look at why others fail. For example, the ignorant manager asks, "Why is it that my employees are so badly kempt?" while ignoring the fact that they do not pay enough for them to:
1. Afford proper shelter
2. Afford proper health care
3. Afford nutritious food
4. Afford those things that purchase respect from a consumerist society
Really, just now, I want to kick you. Quit being so self-absorbed! Those theories are about relating to other people, not selfish ambition.
Maslow's heirarchy of needs, while interesting, is kind of archaic at this point. In reference to your question, I think even Maslow said as much, that it was something only a small minority of people manage to do.
Rogers, another founding humanist psychologist, defined self-actualization as the basis of everything we do, at least when we aren't judging ourself, and I think that's more correct. That sort of self-actualization is not "achievable" in the sense that it can be completed.
You might also look at Carl Jung's idea of individuation. He said that psychological growth was a process of differentiating various opposing ideas and personality traits, then reintegrating them into your conscious personality.
if you have properly studied the concept of self actualisation you would be well aware that though not everyone achieves self actualisation, many achieve it without reaching the top of the piramid. this is how maslows theroy is flawed e.g. a woman working in a factory may be self actualised - she has her saftey/security needs met and she may have a strong network of friends at work and family at home which meet their socio - emotional needs and although they do not have status and may not be recognised by other for what they do they may very well be self actualised at that stage and not need to reach the top of the piramid. Self actualisation is not an unachievable goal.
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