Understanding Self-Actualisation

What is Self-Actualisation?

Self-Actualisation is the willingness to persistently try to improve oneself and engage in the pursuit of personally relevant and meaningful objectives that lead to a rich and enjoyable life. Striving to actualise one’s potential involves engaging in enjoyable and significant activities and making a lifelong and enthusiastic commitment to long-term goals.

Self-actualisation is an ongoing, dynamic process of striving toward maximum development of one’s abilities, capacities, and talents. This component of emotional intelligence is associated with persistently trying to do one’s best and improve oneself in general. Self-actualisation is associated with feelings of self-satisfaction.

Individuals with healthy self-actualisation are pleased with their place on life’s track concerning their personal, occupational and financial goals. The most successful and happy people are those in tune with the things that excite them. They tend to have goals or areas of interest that they pursue with vigour.

How self-actualisation is critical to increasing emotional intelligence and life success.

In the broader context of emotional intelligence, Self-Actualisation is significant because it's not just about achieving success in conventional terms but about finding and realising what truly matters to yourself. This pursuit positively impacts other areas of emotional intelligence, such as self-perception, stress management, interpersonal relationships, decision-making, and outlook on life.

• Reality Testing: Critical in self-actualisation, it requires objectively assessing situations and one's abilities. Effective reality testing ensures that personal goals and aspirations are grounded in actual possibilities, aiding in the pursuit of self-actualisation.
• Self-Regard: Essential for self-actualisation, this involves acknowledging personal strengths and weaknesses and maintaining a positive self-image. Strong self-regard motivates individuals to pursue their potential and personal growth confidently.
• Problem-solving: Fostering a mindset oriented towards growth and improvement, individuals high in Self-Actualisation are typically more open to new experiences and perspectives. This openness enhances their ability to approach problems creatively and effectively. Pursuing personal growth also encourages resilience and adaptability, key traits that enable more efficient and innovative solutions to challenges.
• Optimism: Individuals who actively pursue their personal goals and growth tend to maintain a positive outlook towards their future, fuelling their sense of optimism. This direction of personal fulfilment and meaning typically instils a hopeful perspective, making them more resilient and optimistic in the face of life challenges.

Five key signs to cultivate more self-actualisation

Recognising the need to develop more self-actualisation is important for personal growth and fulfilment.

Here are five key signs that indicate a need to focus more on self-actualisation:

Lack of Fulfillment

If you frequently feel unfulfilled or sense that something is missing in your life, even when you've achieved specific goals, it might be a sign that you are not aligned with your deeper passions and purposes. Self-actualisation involves engaging in activities that resonate with your core values and bring a sense of satisfaction and meaning.

Restlessness or Boredom

Feeling restless or bored, especially in situations that used to excite or engage you, can be a sign that you are not pursuing activities that challenge you or contribute to your personal growth. Self-actualisation is about continually seeking personal development and engaging in new and fulfilling experiences that stimulate more life learning.

Envy or Constant Comparison

If you frequently compare your life to others or feel envious of their achievements, it may indicate a lack of focus on your path of self-actualisation. This could be a sign that you must concentrate on discovering and pursuing your goals and aspirations.

Ignoring Personal Interests and Passions

Neglecting your interests, hobbies, and passions, or feeling that you don’t have time for them, can be a sign that you are not prioritising your self-actualisation. Engaging in activities that you are passionate about is essential for personal growth and fulfilment.

Difficulty Adapting to Change

It could indicate a need for greater self-actualisation if you find it challenging to adapt to changes or new circumstances. Realising your full potential involves adaptability and openness to new experiences and learning opportunities.

Recognising these signs is the first step toward enhancing your self-actualisation. It involves consciously understanding your true desires, setting personal goals that align with your passions, and engaging in activities that lead to personal growth and fulfilment.

Exploring your self-actualisation

Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself to explore your level of self-actualisation. Your answers to these questions can be used to help formulate your action plan to cultivate growth in these areas.

• Are my professional goals clear and aligned with the organisation's objectives?
• How regularly do I review and adjust my goals?
• Am I actively seeking opportunities to learn and develop new skills?
• Am I prioritising tasks effectively and focusing on high-impact activities?
• Do I mentor or seek mentorship to foster professional relationships?
• Do I take the initiative to propose and implement new ideas?
• How well do I adapt to change and embrace innovation?
• How does my work contribute to the overall success of the organisation?
• In what ways have I made a tangible impact on projects or processes?
• What strategies do I use to cope with work-related stress and prevent burnout?
• How do I handle setbacks, and what do I learn from them?
• Have I sought feedback from peers, superiors, and subordinates?

Developing your self-actualisation

1. Set Personal Goals

Based on your reflections, set clear, attainable goals that resonate with your values and aspirations. These goals should challenge and excite you, leading you towards personal growth and fulfillment. They could range from career objectives to personal development goals like learning a new skill or hobby.

2. Engage Mentoring

Sometimes, gaining an outside perspective can be incredibly valuable. Seeking feedback from trusted friends, family, or mentors who can offer insights into your strengths and areas for growth. A mentor, in particular, can guide you, offer advice, and provide support as you work towards your personal goals.

3. Seek Out New Experiences

Step out of your comfort zone and embrace new challenges. This could mean traveling to new places, trying out different hobbies, or putting yourself in new social situations. New experiences can provide fresh perspectives, helping you to grow and understand yourself better.

4. Embrace Lifelong Learning

Keep your mind open and continually seek knowledge and experience through formal education, reading, attending workshops, professional upskilling, personal development courses, or simply being curious about the world around you.

Conclusion

Self-Actualisation within the EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence assessment is also seen to be a key subscale for leaders to demonstrate. It is one of the components associated with the leadership capabilities of Innovation, Insight, Authenticity and Coaching.

We have worked with a large number of teams and organisations and when reflecting on it, all of what we do centres around self-actualisation, the pursuit of meaning and engaging in personal goals. How might we be able to help you?