Self-realization is the culmination of the satisfaction of human needs, it is the greatest psychological need of the human being. It consists of developing our human potential: accepting ourselves, relating in a healthy way with others (with empathy, honesty and assertiveness), knowing how to live the present with happiness, etc.
Self-actualization is the satisfaction of having achieved and fulfilled one or more personal goals that are part of human development and potential. Through self-actualization, individuals expose their capacities, abilities, or talents to the fullest to be and do what they want. That is, it refers to the achievement of a personal goal through which happiness can be contemplated.
The desire for self-realization is motivated by the individual search that leads us to fulfill a series of expectations and answer questions or questions that mark a certain existential moment.
Happiness is the greatest achievement of self-realization, it is contemplative and is obtained when people understand that it is through actions and actions that desires and projects are fulfilled. It is part of the freedom to be and do what you want.
Self-realization is contingent and is present in all areas of human development, that is, the family, personal relationships, studies, work, social relationships, love, projects, companies, among others.
Therefore, the time invested, the effort and the work done to fulfill the vocation that each person has is very important and valuable. For example, musicians feel self-fulfilling when they sing, play an instrument, or compose songs.
Maslow describes in his pyramid five levels of human needs that must be fulfilled until reaching self-realization, ranging from the most basic to the most complex. Only the highest needs need to be met once the simplest ones have been met.
- Basic needs: basic physiological needs such as breathing, feeding, sleeping, avoiding pain, among others.
- Security and protection needs: security and physical and sanitary integrity, financial resources, housing, among others.
- Social needs: it consists of the feeling of affiliation, family, friends, work, social acceptance.
- Estimation Needs: These are appreciation and estimation needs. It refers to respect for our person and for those around us.
- Self-actualization: indicates the need to "be" and personal motivation for growth. For Maslow, self-realization is the greatest need of the human being, through which the most outstanding potentials of people are developed.
