"Being anything less than you are capable of being, you most probably will be unhappy all the days of your life.” ~Abraham Maslow
Image©canstock/Ariec
Model used for illustration purposes only.
Submitted by guest blogger "Bits of Bliss"
Model used for illustration purposes only.
Submitted by guest blogger "Bits of Bliss"
As Americans, we've been fed the typical model of success - it all seems like the perfect plan for a deeply satisfying life. Then why do so many highly successful people approach the later part of life unhappy - feeling as though something significant was (and is) missing?
Revisiting Abraham Maslow
While studying psychology in graduate school at Duquesne University, I was introduced to Abraham Maslow's work and read parts of his groundbreaking book, Motivation and Personality. His extensive studies show that people who do not fully use their potential, are not truly happy in life.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a well known theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" in Psychological Review, a scientific journal that publishes articles on psychological theory.
There is a quote of Maslow’s that I heard that resonates to my core: "Being anything less than you are capable of being, you most probably will be unhappy all the days of your life.” Can you imagine, not realizing your potential in many areas of your life - as experts report and lament? Is there a surefire way to maximize your potential and jumpstart your rise to self-actualization? The answer is yes. DASA meditation offers greater consciousness and increased awareness through the release of stress.
The term self-actualization was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the motive to realize one's full potential. Later, the concept was brought most fully to prominence by Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow created a graphic model to illustrate his research. In Maslow’s view, people are motivated by different venues to keep moving them up the pyramid. It is called the "Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid." The first four levels are specific as human needs, with the capstone self-actualization. The ultimate way of being - living to your highest potential.
There is a quote of Maslow’s that I heard that resonates to my core: "Being anything less than you are capable of being, you most probably will be unhappy all the days of your life.” Can you imagine, not realizing your potential in many areas of your life - as experts report and lament? Is there a surefire way to maximize your potential and jumpstart your rise to self-actualization? The answer is yes. DASA meditation offers greater consciousness and increased awareness through the release of stress.
The term self-actualization was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the motive to realize one's full potential. Later, the concept was brought most fully to prominence by Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow created a graphic model to illustrate his research. In Maslow’s view, people are motivated by different venues to keep moving them up the pyramid. It is called the "Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid." The first four levels are specific as human needs, with the capstone self-actualization. The ultimate way of being - living to your highest potential.
"The more I think of it now, the more sure I get that there will be a tremendous and revolutionary breakthrough in all sciences when holistic methods are invented. And the truth always prevails, I'm sure this will happen." ~Abraham Maslow
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid
Beginning at the bottom of the pyramid graphic, the most basic human needs are met first. We rise up through personal growth to achieve a higher state of awareness, self-actualization This state allows us to experience and enjoy life to it's fullest, by tapping into our potential. |
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After the first four (bottom) categories of needs are adequately met, according to Maslow, one may need (and want) more. Rising higher to something distinctive is possible - the ultimate state of being in Maslow's hierarchy, self-actualization. Maslow describes this ideal state of self-actualization as being the capstone of the pyramid. He describes this awareness as self aware, self accepting, open, ethical, spontaneous, loving - focusing on a greater mission than social acceptance, and also open to peak experiences or transcendence (which, to my way of thinking, the word ‘peak’ is appropriate since it is at the top of the pyramid.)
"These peak experiences are times that you feel truly at peace and in harmony with your environment and also the whole universe. These experiences are marked by a feeling of euphoria and deep joy and gratitude." ~ Abraham Maslow
A ‘Peek’ at Peak Experiences
Who doesn’t want to have this experience of real and truly fulfilling noble emotions? I believe you have a choice of waiting for peak experiences to naturally and randomly occur, or you can check out research which proposes that systematic transcendence is cultivated by silent mantra meditation such as DASA Meditation.
These peak experiences are times that you feel truly at peace and in harmony with your environment and also the whole universe - marked by a feeling of euphoria, deep joy and gratitude. I can’t help but think of the many great writers, scientists, musicians and artists that were and are partly self-actualized. They stand out far beyond their contemporaries, because they infuse a sense of awe, transcendence and euphoria into their masterpieces.
These peak experiences are times that you feel truly at peace and in harmony with your environment and also the whole universe - marked by a feeling of euphoria, deep joy and gratitude. I can’t help but think of the many great writers, scientists, musicians and artists that were and are partly self-actualized. They stand out far beyond their contemporaries, because they infuse a sense of awe, transcendence and euphoria into their masterpieces.
Maslow said that Albert Einstein was a fully actualized person, and that Einstein often talked about peak experiences from his frame of reference, specifically in the following quote in which he talks of wonderment and what clearly are peak experiences:
Albert Einstein
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Einstein knew that there is so much more to life than we can imagine. In my opinion, we haven’t even scratched the surface yet, imagine all the wonders that are within our grasp. Maslow infers that those who don’t experience the glory of life, which is self-actualization and beyond, could not help but be deep down fear motivated and stress burdened in their scurrying around to fulfill their basic needs.
I enjoy some ‘peeks’ at peak experiences as I practice a silent mantra meditation. Some of this happened concurrently as I read Maslow’s books about self-actualization. It all seems to fit. Yes, I believe that this kind of meditation, DASA Meditation, can help anyone reach the pinnacle of life, the capstone of the hierarchy of needs, Self-Actualization. As for me, these ‘bits of bliss’ keep me moving forward.
I enjoy some ‘peeks’ at peak experiences as I practice a silent mantra meditation. Some of this happened concurrently as I read Maslow’s books about self-actualization. It all seems to fit. Yes, I believe that this kind of meditation, DASA Meditation, can help anyone reach the pinnacle of life, the capstone of the hierarchy of needs, Self-Actualization. As for me, these ‘bits of bliss’ keep me moving forward.
Celebrating 0ver 40 Years!
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www.DASAmeditation.org
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