2/24/24 word count – 2,117 reading time – 9.5 minutes

An article by Kendra Cherry updated on February 22, 2023 featured on the Very Well Mind website states that “Self-actualization is the realization of a person’s full potential. It is found at the peak of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and is considered the exception rather than the rule since most people are working to meet more pressing needs.”

In Luke 9:23 Jesus says “…If anyone would come after me, let them deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Is it possible for a person to realize one’s full potential while denying themselves? I think many non-Christians, and some Christians, interpret denying oneself as abandoning one’s personality and personal being in favor of becoming some stereotypical religious automaton. I think that is a misconception.

As Christians we are called to abandon the sin that is in our lives. If sin is a primary component in your character, self-image, and persona, I suppose adopting Christianity could require an abandonment of the self, to the extent that the self is defined by that sin. However, my experience is that as we become more invested in the Christian worldview any changes in our self is a natural, and gradual occurrence that leaves our core personality intact and frequently enhances it.

For some, self-actualization is a sort of new-agey term for a state of bliss that is achieved through sitting cross-legged in the forest reciting mantras in Hindi.  In truth, self-actualization is a state of mind that describes how well a person has adapted to the daily challenges of life and how they relate to the world around them.

The term was popularized by Abraham Maslow, a mid – 20^th century psychologist who founded the discipline of humanistic psychology. Through his research and thinking on the ways humans go about achieving goals, he developed his Hierarchy of Needs that listed our needs in the form of a pyramid that placed our most basic needs at the bottom. At the very peak of the pyramid is “self-actualization”. The idea is that as we accomplish our basic needs we progress upward through levels that include less and less basic needs in favor of more and more emotional and intellectual needs. Self-actualization represents the state in which the individual has accomplished the fullest expression of their potential. Cherry explains in her article; “At the peak of this hierarchy is self-actualization. Maslow’s hierarchy suggested that when the other needs at the pyramid’s base have been met you can focus on this pinnacle need to achieve your full potential. It is important to note that self-actualization isn’t about being perfect of achieving all your life goals. Instead, it is a state of mind that allows people to approach problems, relationships. And needs with acceptance and understanding.”

The Very Well Mind article went on to list “11 Characteristics of Self-Actualized People”.   I will list those characteristics and include my comments.

1. According to the article “Self-Actualized People Have Peak Experiences“…According to Maslow, a peak experience involves feeling of intense ecstasy, joy, and wonder.” Cherry continues, “In other words, peak experiences are moments of transcendence in which a person emerges feeling changed and transformed.”

In the Christian experience there are moments of epiphany that very much conform to the description of “peak experiences” described in the article by Cherry. Moments that are considered visitations by God or the Holy Spirit routinely produce experiences that are expressed by the participant in terms that are the same as those of Maslow explaining peak experience”

2. Self Actualized people – “Have a Continuous Sense of Appreciation” – “Self-actualization is also marked by the ability to maintain a fresh outlook on life. Instead of seeing everyday experiences as mundane or stale, for example, self-actualized people continue to feel a sense of awe, wonder and joy. They maintain a sense of gratitude for the good things in life, no matter how often they experience those things.”

Christians are admonished to be thankful to God for their blessings. With a belief that all good things come from God and that all things are created by or through God it is easy for Christians to recognize the beauty and splendor of the simplest things. Awe inspiring sunsets and the beauty of a field of flowers are a part of the impetus for worshipping God and we are perpetually grateful for the blessings that are overlooked by many who see the world in a more common way.

3. “Self-Actualization Involves Acceptance” – “Not only do self-actualized people fully accept themselves, they also embrace others for who they are”

Although Christians are taught to be intolerant of sin, they are required to be very tolerant of sinners. Admittedly, this is not always practiced by Christians, it is, nevertheless, a Christian principle. The true Christian recognizes that they are sinners and that is a thing they have in common with all people. We strive for improvement in ourselves and hope for improvement in others. What is required to be a Christian is recognition that we are sinners, none are perfect, and that we have a sincere desire to move beyond our sin. Acceptance and love of other sinners is not dependent on ethnicity, background, financial status, age, gender, political affiliation, and yes, even sexual preference. The key is, does the individual recognize their sin and are do they sincerely desire to remove sin from their lives.

4. “Self-Actualized People Are Realistic”. – “Rather than being fearful of things that are different or unknown, the self-actualized individual can view life as it unfolds logically and rationally.”

Reconciling this characteristic to Christianity is going to be difficult for non-Christians who struggle with metaphysics. In their view, things that can’t be seen, touched or empirically proven are not real. The Christian understanding of reality is different. We believe in a spiritual reality in addition to our belief in a physical reality. Plus, we believe that the spiritual reality impacts the physical reality and vice versus. Because of what we consider a fuller understanding of the real reality, our view of logic and rationality may differ from those of a purely material belief system, but for the purpose of determining self-actualization, are entirely acceptable.

5. “They Are Problem Centered” – “Self-actualized individuals are often motivated by a strong sense of personal ethics and responsibility. They enjoy applying their problem-solving skills, to real world situations, and they like helping other people improve their own lives.”

This characteristics falls squarely in the lap of Christianity. The amazing number of NGO’s, social missions, food banks, shelters, health clinics, and myriad of Christian based outreach organizations who collect resources and apply them to easing the discomfort of others is testimony to how we apply our problem-solving skills to real-world situations and seek to help other people improve their own lives. Additionally, our desire to share our spiritual wealth with the spiritually destitute is an example of our attempts to improve people’s lives in the spiritual realm as well.

6. “They Are Independent” – “They don’t conform to other people’s ideas of happiness or contentment.”

In looking at the current worldview that supports an un-Christian perspective in so many arenas on the world stage, it is evident that Christians are un-impressed by ideas that are confrontational to Christian values.

7. “People With Self-Actualization Value Privacy.” – “Self-actualized individuals value their privacy and enjoy solitude. While they also love the company of others, taking time to themselves is essential for their personal discovery and cultivating their potential.

While initially I didn’t recognize this as a characteristic supported by Christian behavior, upon further consideration I realized that we do value and even require solitude. And for much the same reasons described in the article, personal discovery and cultivating potential. Its called prayer time.  Praying in a group is common for Christians but we are also encouraged to seek quiet and undistracted time to enter into personal prayer and meditation. 

8. “They Have a Philosophical Sense of Humor.” – “Self-actualized individuals generally have a thoughtful sense of humor. They’re able to enjoy the humor in situations and laugh at themselves, but they don’t ridicule or joke at the expense of another person’s feelings.”

To me, humor is largely dependent on one’s individual personality. However, most of the Christian commentators, apologists and many preachers to whom I routinely listen have a great sense of humor and are quick to share it with their listeners. Some are downright hilarious at times. Additionally, the lay Christians with whom I associate have well developed senses of humor. With the Christian understanding that there is much more to our being than the world around us, and a confidence that God will eventually prevail in our state of affairs, we have a unique perspective on the world that gives us the freedom to see events and situations in a humorous light. Even God and Jesus Christ were inclined to humor on occasions.

9. “Spontaneity Is a Sign of Self-Actualization” – “Another characteristic of self-actualized people is a tendency to be open, unconventional, and spontaneous. While these people are able to follow generally accepted social expectations, they don’t feel confined by these norms in their thoughts or behaviors.”

When a Christian is well grounded in their own belief system they are free to be open to hearing about other belief systems. In my view, openness isn’t tantamount to accepting. Being a self-actualized Christian means attaining self-actualization through Christianity, not in spite of it.  It is normal for a Christian to have questions about certain aspects of their belief system, or even doubts. I personally think it is healthy to examine other belief systems in order to test the strength of your own belief. Because preachers, ministers, priests and other Christian leaders are charged with providing direction to a large number of people at various stages of their spiritual journey, it may not be appropriate for them to encourage too much openness in the interest of maintaining focus and minimizing confusion. However, there comes a time in any spiritual journey when the believer should challenge their faith.  An openness to other perspectives should spark spontaneous questions and answers that reveal truths about their understanding that provide sources for further introspection. In my view, spontaneity is the freedom to act and respond quickly to unplanned circumstances. As a Christian our actions should be filtered through a desire to avoid sinful behavior. A clear understanding of what constitutes sinful behavior doesn’t inhibit spontaneity, it encourages it.

10..They have a sense of purpose”. “Researchers have found that self-actualized people often feel that they have a specific mission, duty, or responsibility in life.”

This characteristic is another “no-brainer” for Christians. I am inserting this post in the midst of a short series on the purpose of mankind. We have a pretty well-defined spiritual purpose that impacts our purpose at the material level as well. Refer to my posts on purpose to see what my understanding of our spiritual purpose is. A Christian may struggle understanding how to integrate their sense of purpose into their material existence, but they shouldn’t have any questions about the specifics of their spiritual purpose. And while our spiritual purpose governs our perspective on personal goals, it doesn’t prevent us from having goals and purpose within our culture and society, it encourages us to do so.

11. “Self-Actualized People Focus on the Journey” – “While self-actualized people have concrete goals, they don’t see things as simply a means to an end. The journey toward achieving a goal is just as important and enjoyable as actually accomplishing the goal.”

It seems to me that this final characteristic touches upon several of the previous characteristics, especially for the Christian. When you focus on the journey you enable yourself to be spontaneous in noticing the little things that are part of the daily routine that form the nuances of the experiences of the journey. Your sense of appreciation and gratitude give you the insights to really accept the little things, the common things, as blessings. You receive the gifts of awe and wonder that often hide in the overlooked nooks and crannies of our routines. Every time you come face to face with an intriguing aspect of your journey you discover not only something in support of your goal and purpose, but you also may see something that is beautiful, interesting and wonderous on its own accord.

As a final comment on the Maslow hierarchy article for the Very Healthy Mind website, Cherry continued; “According to a 2018 study looking at the personality characteristics most associated with self-actualization, many self-actualized people are also on the path toward a Maslow-dubbed self-transition as a higher state in which people see beyond their own concerns and perspectives, achieving a state of feeling at one with the world and those in it.”

According to Wikipedia, Maslow did not recognize spirituality as a navigation for our behaviors. Given that scientists are only now beginning to consider the possibility of a Higher Power beyond the physical make-up of the world, and a spiritual aspect to our existence, I am not surprised that Maslow overlooked this possibility. But just because he missed that connection doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, and that self-actualization is unobtainable by those who choose to follow the tenets of Christianity. 

God created us as human, as well as spiritual beings. Being Christian doesn’t change the fact that we are still physical creatures with the needs of physical creatures. Being Christian should cause us to re-prioritize our needs, or see them in a different perspective, or perhaps come up with different ways to deal with our needs. We nevertheless, aren’t somehow eliminated from the process of coping with the needs that make up Maslow’s pyramid. There is nothing anti-Christian about striving for self-actualization, the ability to achieve your full potential as a human being. Nor is there anything about being a Christian that would prevent you from becoming self-actualized. If you have turned your life over to God as a Christian, you should be striving to be as excellent in living that life as possible. With a Christian worldview you have the advantage of understanding what excellence is.