9 characteristics of self-actualized people according to Abraham Maslow

The self-actualized people They are those who have found the perfect balance between the “ideal self” and the “real self.” They are unconventional, free, satisfied, grateful and sensitive to others. Now, within the hierarchy of human needs, few manage to reach the top.

This famous pyramid was stated by Abraham Maslow in 1943. A lot of time has passed since then. However, it is still very current. In addition, it is one of the fundamental pillars of humanistic psychology and the positive psychology movement.

Maslow’s motivational approach

Few approaches are as inspiring as those based on “personal growth.”. Currently, most of us spend a lot of time covering the first steps of this pyramid of needs. Unfortunately, we do not address “higher needs.”

For example, If there is something that we all know, it is that we do not always have the security step guaranteed.. Let’s think about that unstable job, about the relationships that come and go… Therefore, we must admit that it is not always easy to climb to the top of the “pyramid.” Crown that pinnacle where the long-awaited self-realization is.

Therefore, We should assume this purpose as a journey in which we invest small daily efforts, brave investments and determined actions.. Likewise, it is important to consider another interesting aspect. That journey is not always necessarily happy or easy. In fact, humanistic psychologists remind us that Figures such as Nelson Mandela, Gandhi or Vicktor Frankl are examples of self-actualized people. The common characteristic of all of them is that they went through critical vital periods.

Characteristics of self-actualized people

1. Self-actualized people are motivated by the unknown and the ambiguous

Nothing is as important to continue growing and investing in our potential as being sensitive to new information. Receptive to those approaches different from ours and open to what is new. Therefore, it is important to have an open and flexible mind that is capable of integrating information instead of rejecting it beforehand. If from a young age we are conditioned to accept a certain type of information, we will be preventing ourselves from acquiring different points of view. So that, To self-realize them, it will be essential to be free of judgments, prejudices and conditioning..

2. Objective appreciation of reality

This dimension that perfectly defines the self-actualized people It is not very used. We don’t see it too much in our most everyday contexts and in those around us. Even more, Maybe we are not capable of being objective when it comes to looking at everything that surrounds us.. In relation to the previous point, the conditioning that we receive from childhood causes us to see reality in a biased way. For this reason it will be important to free our mind and let it see reality as it is.

Most of us are subject to judgments, stereotypes, biases of appreciation and that clear difficulty in being a little more equanimous, more humble and receptive to what surrounds us. If we were a little more objective and took off so many value judgments, we would see reality differently.

3. They are unconventional people, as well as humble

Self-actualized people have their own identity stamp. Own brand, charisma and a light capable of inspiring others. They have made themselves, and they have done so through a process in which they have learned to accept themselves, with their virtues and defects. They have clear priorities and the way to achieve their vital objectives.

They know what they want and enjoy being authentic, acting at all times with that perfect art where one is not afraid to show oneself to the world as one is, but at the same time knowing how to respect others and bring out the best in them.

4. They live their lives with ingenuity, curiosity, creativity and a sense of humor

That same authenticity makes himSelf-actualized people move through the world displaying genuine curiosity about the things that happen in it.. They tend to deeply question what seems taken for granted and, at the same time, allow themselves to marvel at things that are, on the surface, simple. Likewise, they are capable of solving problems in original ways, proposing novel and, often, transgressive ideas.

Finally, They are people who have a sense of humor that allows them to laugh at themselves and assume day-to-day eventualities in a relaxed manner.

5. They are motivated by growth, not by meeting their needs.

We said it at the beginning: Many of us deal in our daily lives with the needs that occupy the lowest rungs of Maslow’s pyramid.namely: a job, a house, a good partner, solid friendships… However, there is something we should think about.

Our lifestyle and today’s society generate an inertia: that all these dimensions oscillate, change, transform… Few things are certain, work comes and goes, there are friends that we leave behind and fabulous people that we have just met and connect us with brio to life…

Therefore, It is not necessary to have “secured” the lower steps of that pyramid to ascend to the summit, the ideal is to achieve good self-realization so that we face all these basic processes of affiliation and security in a more mature and integrative way. Self-actualized people therefore focus more on their own growth, understanding that sometimes there are complex moments, but that with appropriate psychological strategies all adversity can be overcome.

6. They have a purpose

We all like to share evocative and motivating phrases on our social networks. One of the best known is the one that reminds us that “We should not fall asleep without a dream nor wake up without a purpose.”“. However, what we often do is go to bed with worries and wake up with more fears than goals.

Let’s try to give the “chip” a spin, Let’s stop seeing the horizon full of obstacles and barbed wire and visualize a real purpose. A vital objective, which in turn can be divided into small objectives for which we can reinforce ourselves when we achieve them. If we invest strength, motivation and energy in a firm goal, many things will change.

7. Self-actualized people feel grateful

Self-actualized people have the wonderful ability to see and appreciate what surrounds them with the innocence and magic of a child. Everything has its nuances and those brightnesses capable of inspiring you, of inviting you to be a little better every day. They value what life and others offer them. They take it in their hands and are grateful for it. They know how to appreciate the small details and take advantage of them. Without a doubt, they see further than those people who walk with a fixed course every day without even knowing that the sun shines high in the sky.

Because Life, in their eyes, could not be more beautiful and that is why they are grateful for everything that is around them. Every person you know, every past experience or current event… because everything, absolutely everything, has helped you learn and grow. Learning from any situation is one of its greatest qualities. So instead of seeing difficulties, they see opportunities to improve.

8. Self-actualized people are independent, autonomous and enjoy their privacy

On the other hand, people who have achieved self-realizationThey are usually characterized by being autonomous and also enjoying themselves in solitude. That is, although they find satisfaction in contact with others, spending time with themselves is an important form of self-knowledge. Added to this, they are people who They do not usually need external approval and do not guide their decisions based on the wishes of othersthey think for themselves and trust their own judgment.

For this same reason These are assertive people.who are able to assert themselves before others and express their opinions, needs and desires in a clear, concise and respectful way.

9. They build deep relationships with a few, but feel affection for all humanity

Self-actualized people are very select When creating links, they look for quality rather than quantity. When they do so, when they build a relationship as a couple or friendship, they invest attention, care, great affection, a lot of humility and creativity to shape a solid and enriching bond for all parties.

Likewise, and although their most personal circle is usually quite narrow and limited, they feel affection and an active interest in humanity. They are supportive people concerned about universal problems, such as discrimination, hunger or social inequalities. Their ethical principles are very firm and they do not hesitate to be active when it comes to defending the rights of others.

To conclude, it is very possible that many of us see ourselves identified in more than one of the dimensions presented here. However, let us remember that it is not enough to feel defined, it is not enough to “be”, We need to “practice” self-realization and be proactive agents not only in our personal growth, but also in the well-being of others. Because that is the final objective of Abraham Maslow’s pyramid, to be able to transform the world to take it to another level of well-being, coexistence and harmony…

You might be interested…