9 Characteristics of Self-Actualized People
And how you can become one
What is self-actualization
Everyone wants to become what they are meant to be, capable of being and reach their true potential. This desire and constant striving to use your abilities and talents to the fullest is self-actualization.
The concept of self-actualization was put forward by Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist. He, in his model of motivation, explained human needs in the form of a hierarchy which can be imagined as a pyramid with four levels.
Self-actualization is at the top of the pyramid, and it is what pushes you to bring out the best in you, move past your limits and be creative in all areas of your life.
Though the desire to excel is present in all, not everyone succeeds in getting there. Self-actualized people stand out from the rest as they make themselves do what they are capable of doing and thus lead a fulfilling life.
Here are nine characteristics of self-actualized people which can help you spot them and inspire you to become one.
1. They are purposeful
An important characteristic exhibited by self-actualized people is that they have a strong sense of purpose. It pushes them to jump out of bed every morning with enthusiasm and retire at night with contentment.
Being purpose-driven is having a vision of what you want to accomplish and where you want to reach in life.
With a purpose in mind, you have a clearer view of your life’s bigger picture and know where you are headed. It, therefore, becomes easy to motivate yourself to take action on your big goals, and the journey then becomes as enjoyable as the anticipation of reaching the destination.
2. They accept themselves
Most people who desire to reach perfection are hard on themselves. They are overly self-critical and are unforgiving of themselves when they don’t measure up or make mistakes.
A lack of self-acceptance can be detrimental to your mental well-being and come in the way of achieving your goals.
Self-actualized people realize the value of being gentle with themselves, especially when they have failed to meet expectations or rise up to the high standards.
Self-actualization, therefore, goes a long way in boosting your confidence, improving your sense of self, and making you feel good about yourself.
3. They live in reality
Self-actualized people dream big and aspire to achieve great things, but they remain grounded in reality. They neither underestimate the hard work needed to achieve success nor overestimate their abilities to reach where they aspire to be.
These people have a realistic outlook on life and know it’s a rough road to any place worth going. They, therefore, keep themselves mentally prepared for the struggle and hardships that will come their way while chasing their goals.
Their willingness to accept and embrace the challenges makes them unshakable and relentless. Hence, they perform to the best of their ability and surpass expectations even in trying circumstances.
4. They accept their limitations
No one is perfect; each person has their limitations, flaws, and negative traits. But many choose to ignore their faults and deficiencies and assume they know-it-all and can do-everything.
Knowing your weaker areas and boundaries allows you to understand what and how much you can do and how far you can push yourself without burning out or jeopardizing your physical and mental health.
Self-awareness and self-evaluation bring your focus to the areas where you are lacking and enable you to work on yourself to transcend your limitations.
So if you want to achieve self-actualization, you must be ready to self-reflect and carry out a self-assessment that will help you identify your weaknesses.
5. They are self-starters
Self-actualized people don’t wait for others to guide them or tell them what to do. They readily take the initiative and are action-oriented. These self-starters are not only enthusiastic about making things happen but make sure they follow through and go all the way.
Being self-driven and able to summon motivation as and when needed empowers you to beat the competition, climb up the ladder of success with relative ease, and ensure you stay at the top of your game.
6. They put their strengths to work
Every person has special abilities and unique skills that put them in a position of advantage and help them score an edge over others.
Self-actualized people make efforts to maximize their positives, put in efforts to make use of what is available and leverage on their personal strengths. This clears many barriers from their path to success, helps them reach goals and accomplish all that they have set their eyes on.
7. They don’t get influenced by other people
Self-actualized people have a mind of their own, meaning they make efforts to develop independent thinking and reasoning.
Before making choices and decisions, they weigh the pros and cons, apply logic and go by what makes sense to them instead of getting swayed by other people’s opinions and suggestions.
Though self-actualized people may listen to others’ ideas, thoughts and feedback, they are the ones who call the shots.
Also, they have no qualms about owning their choices and standing by their decisions if things go wrong. They are open to learn from their mistakes but will never regret or blame others for their actions or choices.
8. They have a problem-solving mindset
Self-actualized people are wired to realize their dreams and fulfill their desires. However, transforming goals into reality is no easy feat; there are difficulties and hurdles at every step.
Therefore, self-actualized people look at hitches, glitches and hold-ups in a positive light. Instead of seeing the problems as obstacles or barriers and complaining, whining, or feeling frustrated by their troubles, these people channelize their energy to sort out the issues and focus on finding the path forward.
The self-actualized people quickly identify and address their problems because they regard them as opportunities for growth and personal development.
9. They dare to venture into the unknown
It’s cozy within the comfort zone, but confining yourself to the cocoon can stunt your growth and keep you stuck in mediocrity.
There are endless opportunities outside the comfort zone. Self-actualized people dare to push themselves and grab hold of all that the world has to offer.
Venturing into the unknown enables you to fight your fears, develop a flexible mindset and become more adaptable.
Also, the newer experiences and possibilities broaden your mental horizon and widen your perspective. This enriches your life and prepares you to boldly deal with all that life throws your way.
In Conclusion
Contrary to what many erroneously believe, life is not only about success and happiness. At a deeper level, everyone yearns for fulfillment which comes from doing what you love, being what you truly desire, and stretching yourself to become your most superior version.
Self-actualization drives you to make the best of what you have, and reach your full potential. It is the highest order motivation that gives you true happiness and allows you moments of peak life experience.
You may also like:
4 Simple Habits To Increase Your Chances of Success in Life
5 Tips To Change The Stories You Tell Yourself And Turn Your Life Around
6 Underrated Things That Can Help You Be Successful in Life
Dr. Roopleen is the author of ‘And So Can You’ and From Average to Awesome
