- History of Self-Actualization: Self-actualization, a term coined by Abraham Maslow, is seen as a crucial need in positive psychology. It is at the pinnacle of the hierarchy of human psychological needs in Maslow's pyramid - succeeding physical needs, safety needs, a sense of community, intimate relationships and self-esteem.
- Deep Meaning of Self-Actualization: A shallow understanding of self-actualization describes it as achieving one's full potential or personal growth. However, there is a deeper, richer meaning. Maslow describes self-actualization as more than a luxury, but a necessity for a fulfilled, psychologically healthy life.
- Ignoring Self-Actualization: Ignoring the need for self-actualization, Maslow equates to a deficiency in vital nutrients - which eventually leads to psychological dysfunction or neurosis. People who ignore self-actualization often can't understand why they feel dissatisfied or unfulfilled.
- Values of a Self-Actualized Person: Self-actualization, in essence, is the pursuit of being truly human. A self-actualized person has superior perception of reality, increased acceptance of self, others, and nature, more autonomy, is spontaneous, focuses on challenges rather than self, values privacy, and resists social conditioning. They feel connected to the world not just their culture and are efficient at nurturing their talents. Self-actualized individuals prioritize ideal values over basic needs and are more fulfilled. One of the significant identifiers of self-actualized individuals is that they are willing to continue improving themselves without prompting from external influences. The journey to self-actualization, therefore, is a continuous pursuit of personal growth, self-discovery, and improving one's life.
- Self-actualized people's relationship with culture: They are not controlled by their cultures but select elements that benefit them personally, disregarding the rest. These individuals are comfortable being unpopular and do not need others' approval.
- Role of reality, truth, and emotions: Self-actualized people value reality, truth, facts over beliefs or dogmas. They have a scientific thinking mindset and a fresh appreciation of experiences. They fully embrace their emotions and regularly encounter peak experiences, resonating deeply and passionately with life.
- Connection to humankind and improved interpersonal relationships: These individuals identify strongly with humanity, believing in its generality good course. Their relationships are more constant and healthier as they have a democratic personality structure, refraining from controlling or manipulating people.
- Creativity, self-understanding, and unity: Those self-actualized exhibit a high level of creativity and have a deep understanding of themselves. They always strive for unity and integration in their personality and worldview.
- Fostering talents and values: Self-actualized individuals nurture their talents and adhere to higher values such as truth, beauty, goodness, uniqueness, wholeness, justice, simplicity, richness, effortlessness and playfulness, rather than merely pursuing base desires.
- Driven by intrinsic motivation and enjoyment: Compared to being driven by lack of something, self-actualized people carry out tasks out of love and enjoyment. They find pleasure even in quiet moments and in operating at peak performance.
- Attitude towards others and virtues: They approach people with a non-judging, non-interfering stance and show more love while requiring less. They are comfortable with paradoxes, contradictions, and unknowns.
- Alignment of desires and impulses with what is good: Their wishes align with what is beneficial for them. They have excellent psychological health and live with purpose, seeing their work as a precious cause and aiming to improve the world.
- Admitting and correcting mistakes: Self-actualized people can acknowledge and correct their mistakes. They are not perfect but are willingly improve themselves. They balance enjoyment and discipline.
- Healthier expression of impulses and a shift in concerns: Self-actualized individuals express impulses in a healthier manner. They have a different set of concerns known as "Being-challenges," are positively motivated and live in the present moment.
- Conscious decision-making and higher consciousness: They make conscious decisions driven by a higher level of consciousness.
- Desire to achieve self-actualization: Leo emphasizes the importance and the peak of being human is achieving self-actualization and encourages listeners to strive for it. Encourages viewers to visit actualized.org for resources on becoming self-actualized.