Defining Self Actualization
The term self-actualization has been a subject of various psychological theories concerning individual and individual development˳ It was originally introduced by a theorist Kurt Goldstein, who described it as a motive to actualize all of one’s capacities˳ Another theorist, Abraham Maslow, the foremost exponent of the concept of self-actualization described it as an individual’s desire for fulfillment, to become what he potentially is or to become everything that one is capable of becoming˳
Self-actualization is a being need; and an individual may feel discontent and restless if he is not doing what he is fitted for doing˳ Self-actualization is an internal force that motivates us to recognize and utilize our abilities and capabilities in order to become what we were meant to become˳ It is a continuous process of unfolding our potentials and requires individuals’ intensity, direction and persistence of effort towards attaining a goal˳
To self-actualize is just like taking some time out of daily life and listening to one’s inner self – the subconscious mind (Note:Subconscious mind is a level of mental life existing just below the threshold of consciousnesses, where dwells a part of our memory that is accessible by an act of will)˳ It’s like having a direct contact with our soul and asking ourselves questions like: is this what I meant to be, is this what I wanted to be, or is this what I am capable of˳ When we actualize our self, we disconnect ourselves from the outside world and shut out the external clues which influence our thinking, feeling and speech; and, go into a vacuum – a space (Note: Space is that area of abstraction, which allows us to comprehend sensual experience˳ It is an element of systematic framework that we use to structure our experience’: Immanuel Kant in Critique of Pure Reason), which provides us freedom to determine our actions˳ As, in our daily life, it is social thought that determines our action˳ We act as people wants us to act˳ We become what people want us to become but that is not necessarily what we want to become˳ And when we are provided freedom to think, we will be able to relate ourselves to our heart and soul and; reason our potentials rationally˳
Self-actualization is about living a meaningful life˳ It’s an awakening call persuading us to relate to our inner world and operationalize those latent gifts and talents with which we were born and which we were meant to use and make a difference in life˳ However, it is a weak tendency – like a whisper or a quiet voice from within˳ Therefore it mostly goes unheard˳ It is to a person to be sensitive to this whispering or quiet voice of the self˳
Importance of Self-Actualization
All human beings possess potential to excel˳ That potential only needs realization and activation to trigger action˳ Those who do not realize and activate their potentials might go into depression˳ A person will become a dreamer if he does not put his potentials into practice˳ He may feel inspired by his thoughts and potentials but if he doesn’t act upon them he will achieve nothing˳ So, either we realize our potentials and move ahead to lead a purpose full life or else we will cease to exist except as dumb driven cattle and our soul will wither away with time˳
Self-actualization evokes a feeling in us that nothing is left wanting, a sense of freedom and liberation, a sense of harmony and satisfaction that, I am an integral part of all that surrounds me and that, I am fulfilling my true individual purpose˳ However, it is important to identify toxic actualizations and meanings, and release them from mind as only positive actualization can be useful for oneself and the country˳
Self-actualization is not like a seed, which sprouts, in barren soil˳ It can only work effectively if there is a desire – a will to do so˳ The socialization from the family – the primary unit, must provide amiable environment to the growth of a broad mind, a positive self-concept and outlook towards life, encouraging an individual to become what he beliefs in˳
The realization of ones full potential and setting the same into action is the need of the day˳ Pakistan doesn’t lack in intelligence and talent˳ Pakistan doesn’t lack in resources and potentials˳ Indeed, our people have proved time and again that they are not incapable of comprehending and achieving objectives˳ Such a nation deserves to live with pride and make a contribution to the welfare and progress of the nation˳ What we lack is probably ‘the will’ to awake or trigger motivation and this task is as urgent as it is gigantic˳
In order to apply and realize what we belief in, we need to continually assess our strengths and weaknesses and count the good things in life˳ Being positive and optimistic in approach and knowing that there is always another way of looking at things will make us realistic, logical and spontaneous and we will feel relatively safe, accepted, loved, loving, and alive˳ We will have a mission in life and lead a meaningful life˳
Self-Actualization – Soul Searching – Self-Exploration – Introspection
As already stated above, self-actualization is a tendency to maximize one’s talents and potentials˳ It is a sort of a soul searching that helps us to recognize who we are and who we were meant to be˳ Whereas soul searching means examination of one’s conscience especially with regard to motives and values Soul searching is a sort of self-exploration, which refers to the examination and analysis of one’s own unrealized spiritual or intellectual capacities˳ It can be a vision, an intention, a value or an inspiration-anything that helps us in learning, discovering and growing our abilities˳ The deeper the self-exploration, the closer one comes to self-actualization˳ Another term, which can be used interchangeably with self-exploration, soul searching and self-actualization, is introspection˳ Introspection, according to D˳ M˳ Armstrong is a self-scanning process in the brain acquiring information about our current states of mind apt for the production of certain behavior or in short an examination of one’s own thoughts and feelings˳
Self-actualization is not a new phenomenon˳ It is not an incorporated foreign doctrine˳ It is indeed the same khudi (self), about which Iqbal speaks so frequently in his poetry and prose˳ Iqbal inspired the Muslims with the realization of life and urged them for self-reformation and self-actualization by searching for their self˳ He stated that if a person does not take the initiative, if he does not evolve the inner richness of his being, if he ceases to feel the inward push of advancing life, the spirit within him hardens into a stone and he is reduced to the level of dead matter˳ He wrote:
“Your prayer cannot change the Order of the Universe, But it is possible that praying will alter your being;If there is a revolution in your inner Self, It will not be strange, then, if the whole world changes too”˳ (Iqbal:Zarb-e-Kalim)
Even Quran states that, “Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts”˳
Self-actualization alone can elevate our nation to a progressive level˳ We have some shinning examples of the countries like Japan, South Korea, Greece, Rome, Egypt, before us who overcame social and moral degeneration after realizing their potentials and achieved results that shocked the world˳
The Korean nation has gone through tough and harsh times in history and had made quite sacrifices but emerged out more stronger and developed˳ The underlying fact of their success was that that Korean people always took pride in their country and faced the challenges bravely˳ They placed their faith in the hands of able leaders and believed in their potentials and in themselves˳ The results were astounding; South Korea rose to such a level of economic and technical advancement that it is referred to as the Asian Tiger˳ The nation bore the brunt of hard times for a better future˳ The teachings of Confucius, has a great influence on the thinking of South Koreans even today˳ The basic ingredients of their remarkable success are hard work, discipline and a sense of integrity and integration arising from patriotism˳
Pakistan has got rich heritage˳ We need to nurture higher values, moral standards and foster our potentials to be made useful for the betterment of the country˳
References:
1˳ Goldstein K˳ The Organism: A Holistic Approach to Biology Derived from Pathological Data in Man˳ [Online] Available from: self-actualization˳com/what-is-self-actualization˳htm˳
2˳ Maslow A˳ A Theory of Human Motivation˳ [Online]
3˳ D˳M Armstrong in ‘Introspection’: Quassim Cassam (ed), Self-Knowledge, Oxford University Press: 1994˳
4˳ Iqbal M˳ The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam˳ [Online] Available from:
yespakistan˳com/iqbal/reconstruction/
5˳ Quran˳ Surah Ar Ra’d No˳13˳ Verse No˳ 11˳ Translation by Marmaduke Pickthall˳
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