The 6 Signs of a Self-Actualized Person

Imagine the forest floor after a long wintering rain. Beneath the surface, the soil is teeming with life—roots spreading, seeds germinating, and the slow, steady decay of last year's leaves providing nourishment for new growth. The process is quiet, almost imperceptible, but it's happening. 

Self-actualization is like this—a constant, unseen evolution, a natural, organic unfolding that happens as we live, breathe, and simply exist. But just as invasive species or a lack of necessary conditions like sunlight can hinder a forest's growth, so too can our natural state of becoming be obstructed by the noise of modern life and the weight of cultural conditioning.

Understanding self-actualization

The concept of self-actualization was first introduced in the early 20th century by Kurt Goldstein, a German-American neurologist and psychiatrist. Goldstein used the term in his 1934 book "The Organism: A Holistic Approach to Biology Derived from Pathological Data in Man." He described self-actualization as the driving force behind the development and realization of one's potential, emphasizing it as a fundamental, innate drive found in all living organisms.

Despite this early description, however, self-actualization as a human concept did not become widely-popularized until later in the 20th century when American psychologist Abraham Maslow further developed the idea and incorporated it into his famous hierarchy of needs, which he first introduced in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation." In Maslow's hierarchy, self-actualization represents the highest level of psychological development, where a person fully realizes their potential and achieves personal fulfillment.

It’s easy to see how self actualization works in the non-human organisms we see all around us, but when applied to humans, the addition of our very complex, creative, self-aware brains makes the question of how it works within us much more difficult to answer. 

The 6 signs of a self-actualized person

According to Maslow, the 6 signs that an individual has achieved self-actualization are the following: 

1. They are working to realize and fulfill their potential. They focus on using their talents, capabilities, and creative energies to the fullest extent possible.

2. They are true to themselves. They are not confined by societal expectations or external pressures, but live in alignment with their nature and values. 

3. They often have "peak experiences." They enjoy moments of intense joy, creativity, and transcendence where they feel connected to something greater than themselves.

4. They are creative. They see creativity is a fundamental aspect of self-actualization—and not just artistic creativity, but creativity in life in general, leading to a broader, more spontaneous, and inventive approach to life.

5. They have a strong sense of autonomy. They are self-directed, make decisions based on their internal compass, and are less reliant on external approval or validation. 

6. Have a clear sense of purpose and meaning in life. Self-actualized individuals are often driven by a deep sense of mission, purpose, or a calling that goes beyond their personal needs. 

And if I could be so bold, the two things I would add to Maslow’s list are:

1. They make space for the full life cycles of birth and death to occur inside them, in all forms, in multidimensional ways, at every moment.

2. They feel aligned in all aspects of life—in their purpose, mindset, body, spirit, values, behaviors, words, and actions.

Here are 8 contemplation questions to help you reflect on your self-actualization journey:

1. In which areas of my life do I feel I am using my talents and creative energies to their fullest extent? Where might I be holding back?

2. What societal expectations or external pressures have shaped my decisions recently? How might I live more in alignment with my true nature?

3. When was the last time I experienced a moment of intense joy or transcendence? How can I invite more of these 'peak experiences' into my life?

4. How do I express creativity in my everyday life? How can I cultivate more spontaneity and inventiveness in areas that feel stagnant?

5. Do I feel autonomous in my decision-making, or do I often seek external validation? What steps can I take to strengthen my inner compass?

6. What purpose or meaning is currently guiding me? How does it shape my actions, and what might need to shift to feel more aligned with that purpose?

7. Am I making space for the natural cycles of growth, decay, birth, and death within myself? What old parts of me need to die for new growth to emerge?

8. Where do I feel the deepest alignment in my life—mindset, body, spirit, or behaviors? Where do I feel a disconnect, and how might I bring those parts into greater harmony?

Trust the process. It's happening, even when you can't see it.

As you contemplate these signs and questions, remember that your path is uniquely yours. There is no perfect timeline or final point of arrival. Instead, self-actualization is the constant nurturing of your truest self, allowing you to grow, evolve, and exist in the fullest expression of who you are—rooted in purpose, free from external noise, and fully alive to all the seasons of your being.