Self-actualization in an actual sense means acceptance and complete realization of one's potential, development of one’s abilities, and appreciation of life. Being self-actualized means accepting yourself and others as who they actually are despite of having complete knowledge of the flaws and limitations.

Being self-actualized requires one’s full entanglement in life and awareness of that which they are skilled of accomplishing. Abraham Maslow scrutinized self-actualization as the realization of one’s potential. 

[Maslow, Abraham. A Theory of Meta motivation: The Biological rooting of the Value-Life in journal of humanistic psychology,7, 1967]

The expert indicated that Self-actualization can be described as the complete realization of one’s potential as manifest in peak experiences which involve the full development of one’s abilities and appreciation for life. 

[Maslow, Abraham. Toward a Psychology of Being. Princeton: D. Van Norton Company, 1962.]

Maslow’s research says that humans have certain needs to satisfy in order to attain self-actualization. The state of self-actualization is viewed as obtainable only after one’s fundamental needs of survival, safety, love, and self-esteem are met.  [Maslow, Abraham. A Theory of Human Motivation in psychological review, 50 (4), 1943] [Maslow, Abraham. Motivation and Personality. [1st ed.]. New York: Harper, 1954.]

He categorized those needs as follows,

1) Basic needs -

 A) Physiological needs (Water, Food, etc)

 B) Safety needs (Shelter and security)

2) Psychological needs -

 A) Need of belongingness

 B) Need of esteem

3) Self-actualization needs (Realizing of one’s full potentialities)

 Even though many believe that the concept of self-actualization is not in reach of every human being as it stands at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there have been many self-actualized people in the world like;               

• Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865; American President)
• Albert Einstein (1879- 1955; Theoretical Physicist)
• Aldous Huxley (1894- 1963; Philosopher and Writer)
• Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962; Diplomat and Activist)
• William James (1842- 1910; Philosopher and Psychologist)

Based on Maslow’s description, there are a few conventional characteristics of self-actualized individuals, they are as follows

1. Self-actualized people are accepting of others’ as well as their own flaws, often with humour and tolerance. Not only do self-actualized people fully accept others, they are also true to themselves rather than pretending in order to impress others.  [Tale Vich, Jennifer. Toward a Comprehensive Taxonomy of Human Motives, 2017]
2. Self-actualized people also tend to be independent and resourceful: they are less likely to rely upon external authorities to direct their lives. Martelo, Frank and Pessi, Anne. Significant work is about self-realization and broader purpose: defining the key dimensions of meaningful work. Frontiers in psychology, 2018]
3. Self-actualized people can acquire deep and loving relationships with others.
4. They have an inclination to embody gratitude and maintain a deep admiration even for the undistinguished blessings in life.
5. They can habitually perceive between the superficial and the real when judging situations.
6. They sporadically depend upon their environment or culture to form their persuasions.
7. They have an inclination to reckon life as a mission which calls them to a purpose beyond themselves.
8. Self-actualized people are tending to have very strong opinions about themselves and others which are usually very difficult to change.
9. Self-actualized people tend to anticipate experiencing alternate, unfamiliar and different conditions and activities even after being aware of the risks involved.

These are the characteristics that help distinguish self-actualized individuals from the rest of the world. If an individual has all of the above categories in them then the individual is known to be self-actualized.

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