Self Actualization

Self Actualization

Transcend your life by realising your true potential

                     

There was a boy named Mohan who was constantly told that he was not going to amount to anything. He was put down by all of his peers and superiors. He was not at the top of his class, nor the social ladder. Besides, he had fallen prey to materialistic desires and had started stealing, smoking and consuming meat. Why is it then that he is regarded as one of the most influential persons in world history?

This young boy was none other than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi – the father of our nation in the early stages of his life. How then, did ‘Mohan’ evolve into ‘Mahatma Gandhi’?

The only answer to which is that he achieved self actualization. Self actualization may sound like a fancy term, but actually it's quite simple to understand: it means the realization or fulfilment of one's talents and potentialities.

In Abraham Maslow's famous hierarchy of needs, self actualization is located at the very top of the pyramid, representing the need to fulfil one's individual potential. Needs that fall below self actualization in the pyramid are self esteem, social needs, security and basic psychological needs, in that order.

“If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life,” quotes Abraham Maslow.

It was only because M.K.Gandhi believed in himself, that the world saw another great personality. His life inspires us to unfold our true potentials.  All of us can play a very significant role in the flow of history. The reason we never realize is because we never believe that we can have a worldwide impact. Here’s how to work towards self actualization:

1. Live Vividly: You know all those things you have always wanted to do? You should go do them. Dare to try new things instead of sticking to safe paths. Not everyone who went to sleep last night woke up to today’s sunrise. ‘Today’ is an eternal gift. Today does not care about your yesterday’s blemishes or tomorrow’s uncertainties. It is a wonderful opportunity in itself. If you are blessed with another ‘today’, allow yourself to breathe and dissolve into the depth and beauty of experiences.

2. Let the Self Emerge: Stop trying to fix yourself. You are perfect exactly as you are and there is no need to change anything except the thought that you aren’t good enough. Give up defining yourself – to yourself or to others. You might be having a couple of scars and a couple of bad memories but then again, all great heroes do. Instead of feeling ashamed or embarrassed, rise above them and embrace your individuality.

3. Be Fearlessly Authentic: Authenticity requires self-knowledge and self-awareness as it involves accepting your strengths and weaknesses. Introspect as to who you really are and scrutinize your goals and beliefs. This seemingly intangible quality of authenticity, then, has very tangible outcomes. Remember, you can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are. Once you realize who you truly are and accept your being, you will be able to stand in presence of your imperfections, fearlessly.

4. Act with Integrity: There might be times where you’d be required to make unpopular decisions or to acknowledge aspects of yourself that you would rather hide, but at times like those, favour your beliefs and values dauntlessly. Be willing to act in accordance to your genuine nature even when it feels vulnerable. Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody is going to know whether you did it or not. As you take responsibility for your own actions, you take a step closer to self actualization.

5. Appreciate Others: Appreciation is gratitude in action and gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Make sure you don’t lose the spirit of modesty, while you bask in the sunshine of accomplishment. Instead, be thankful. When you are thankful, you are best at adding value to others and when you put a smile on someone’s face, it can’t help but put a smile on yours. As you tend to view the world with a continuous sense of appreciation, even simple experiences would serve as a source of inspiration and immense pleasure.

6. Enjoy Solitude: Lastly, find time to reconnect with yourself. Use the time to reflect on yourself, your life and larger philosophical questions or simply to enjoy the little things you like. It could be reading, writing, painting, cooking, travelling, listening to music or watching a movie, but, value your privacy and learn to enjoy solitude. It might make you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable in the beginning but don’t distance yourself from it. Be patient. Once you start enjoying your own company and loving the time you spend with yourself, your life will dwell into a whole new level of intimacy and depth, building and strengthening your individual potential.

Self actualization is not about overcoming obstacles but about overcoming yourself, leading to a better ‘you.’ It is a high powered, dynamic process. It is about moving into deeper levels and when you feel that, pay attention to that; because self actualization is not about a destination, it is about a journey of immersing, exploring and unfolding new pieces of yourself along the way.

“Glory lies in the attempt to reach one’s goal and not in reaching it.”  - Mahatma Gandhi.


                                                                                           -Niyati Sanghavi
                                                                                             TYBcom
                                                                                             Business Management (2015-16)
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