Self-Actualization, simply put is the need for an individual to grow towards fulfillment of their highest needs. Self-actualization is achieved when you’re able to reach your full potential. Women are in the best place now, more than ever to elevate to this level of being. Today women have the luxury of being more self sufficient, which means we have the agency to choose for our selves what needs we wants to pursue and in what order.

Becoming self-actualized is considered the exception rather than the rule since most people are working to meet more pressing needs. This is especially true for women who are not above that human experience, but who also Are limed by other factors. Women rarely ever have the chance to become self- actualized and have a hard time moving up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Woman have always been understably concerned with their physiological and safety needs. This is because we are the mothers, so we are constantly worried about how to obtain resources for our offspring, and ourselves, also because biologically speaking we’re not the strongest physically, so safety is always a pressing matter for us. Then as a added barrier, social conditioning facilitated by society has ingrained in us to value only one thing, a man! From the time we’re able to truly start processing the world around us we’re bombarded by information and images that tell us that all we should be concerned about is how to get a man, and how to keep him.  This is usually always accompanied by criticism of the woman who doesn’t follow suit. The biggest example of this is Disney princesses every one of them were amazing women, but unhappy until she found her prince. The women villains were usually old man less hags who were jealous of her potential to get a man! This narrative teaches girls that you don’t matter until a man says you do. And that she should always prioritize getting a man in her young years so that she doesn’t in up an old evil hag. Throughout the entire movie you see these amazing women drop everything to entertain their love interests. These stories are told to us constantly and the social ideals of how women should spend their time has no shortage of opinions on how to go about doing this. As a result pursuing  romantic relationships take up the majority of our time as young adults. The world instills in our psyche a slave conditioned mindset that keeps us constantly consumed with pursuing,  pleasing and taking care of the mans every needs. Don’t get me wrong there are situations where this behavior could be beneficial like in marriage. The problem is that we spend a lot of time chasing men even while not married. This is why we push for women to maintain boundaries within romantic relationships before marriage so that she has time to nurture herself, And prioritize her own needs. Women are not above or below the human experience and we all deserve the opportunity to realize our full potential. You cannot be self-Actualized if you do not focus on yourself.

Now let’s dig a little deeper into what self- Actualization is, because we can’t actualize what we cant define. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology, comprising of a six-tier model of human needs. From the bottom of the hierarchy upward, the needs are: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, self-actualization and Self-Transcendence. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up.

1. Physiological needs – these are biological requirements for human survival: air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, and sleep.

If these needs are not satisfied the human body couldn’t function optimally. Maslow considered physiological needs the most important, because all other needs become secondary until these needs are met.

2. Safety needs – protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, and freedom from fear.

3. Love and belongingness needs – after physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness. The need for interpersonal relationships motivates behavior

Examples include friendship, intimacy, trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love. Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work etc.).

4. Esteem needs – which Maslow classified into two categories: esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence, self love) and the desire for reputation or respect from others (status, prestige, legacy).

Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity. This changes in adulthood as we become more independent minded.

5. Self-actualization needs – realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. A desire “to become everything one is capable of becoming

6. Self-transcendence. Motivated by values that transcend beyond the personal self. We see ourselves as part of the broader universe to develop common priorities and goals. Every thing in life is deeply felt, A spiritual need to transcend our thoughts Once this need is fulfilled, we can see beyond our individual well being to the needs of us all.

Becoming Self-Actualized allows you to master yourself. Mastering yourself allows you to have some control of your life experience. There’s so many reasons why this is important but the main one is that when a women knows who she is and what she wants she can better discern for her life. Keeping her out of mental and physical danger and allowing her to thrive so that she can reach her full potential. This mastery is paramount for women whom through understanding concepts like Emotional Intelligence would allow her to teach it to the next generation. I hope this is a good foundation for you to build upon. Over the next couple of weeks we will be going into more depth about how self-actualization benefits us as women.