Self-Actualization

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For me, I 'd say ~ more or less ~ since about 2008 when I built a house (at last) and shed certain kinds of work that I didn't want to do anymore. There was plenty of self-actualization going on - and sometimes not going on, or undoing itself - prior to that, but I have been on a satisfying plateau for some time.

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One day at a time.

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Circumstances have caused drift in recent times but I am back on course now. I hope. 🙂

How do you define self-actualisation? Does it simply mean being oneself?

Originally posted by Startreader
How do you define self-actualisation? Does it simply mean being oneself?

I imagine drewnogal is using the word in its conventional meaning otherwise she would have said. 🙂

Seriously, I found contentment the day I realized one should not expect absolutely
nothing from life.

I do what I can and keep on moving without looking back. If good stuff happens, I
enjoy it. If bad stuff happens then I am never disappointed.

There is no purpose to life, to be honest.

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Yes I agree. For me it's also become important to live in the moment as much as possible; something I find very difficult to do. I am too often worrying about the future or concerning myself about the past. Not good.

Originally posted by Seitse
Seriously, I found contentment the day I realized one should not expect absolutely
nothing from life.

I do what I can and keep on moving without looking back. If good stuff happens, I
enjoy it. If bad stuff happens then I am never disappointed.

There is no purpose to life, to be honest.

Is the double negative in your first sentence intended? It changes the meaning completely.

Originally posted by divegeester
Is the double negative in your first sentence intended? It changes the meaning completely.

I'm that enigmatic. And idiomatic too. I kid you not.

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Mmmmm. As I thought, it seems to mean being oneself.

Forgive me, I tend to resist and dislike jargon.

I very much like the question, redefined as being oneself. Being true to oneself. FMF's rather amusing and typically trying-too-hard-to-be-disdainful (showing off) comment suggests his familiarity with a world of new-speak and jargon. I'll stick to real old-fashioned English. Can you imagine Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins discussing self-actualisation? Or Elizabeth Bennett? Or David Copperfield?

As such, I'll get back to it a little later when I get a moment. Interesting question - redefined - drewnogal! 🙂

Originally posted by Startreader
Mmmmm. As I thought, it seems to mean being oneself.

Forgive me, I tend to resist and dislike jargon.

Maybe you need to think of it as a normal word that is useful rather than label it "jargon". One can be caught up in "being oneself" without there being fulfillment of one's talents and potential, which is what the term self-actualization refers to. It's a word whose etymology stretches back 75 years.

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I do quite a lot of work for organizations here that seek to empower women to self-actualize even while living amid strong patriarchal traditions and cultural expectations. How this is brought about encompasses a range of things that need attention, from tackling domestic violence, to maternal and reproductive health, political literacy with regard to rights and social entitlements (as well as advocacy, activism and participation in alternative media), and entrepreneurial and management skills.

Originally posted by Seitse
Seriously, I found contentment the day I realized one should not expect absolutely
nothing from life.

I do what I can and keep on moving without looking back. If good stuff happens, I
enjoy it. If bad stuff happens then I am never disappointed.

There is no purpose to life, to be honest.

I like that, Seitse! 🙂