Sociologists have discovered that humans have an innate need to belong to a group of people. Healthy humans devote a good amount of time and energy on securing and maintaining their place in a social group, and self actualization includes having a healthy relationship with and within a community of people. Let’s see how you are in this area:
For each of the following statements, answer True, False, or Sort of:
The more “true” responses you were able to give, the more disenfranchised from society you may feel. Your journey toward self actualization will include strengthening your ties to a functioning community of people. This might include involvement in organizations like civic groups or church, volunteering, and contributing resources like your talents, money, leadership abilities and time.
If you aren’t used to thinking of yourself as a social animal, you might assume that this isn’t an important element of self actualization. Once you experience the richness of living fully in a community of other humans – giving and taking and interacting – you’ll see what a difference it makes. The Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reported on a study that was conducted on people with “dismissing avoidant attachment style,” in other words, people who believe they don’t need to belong. In studies, the participants felt better about themselves when the others in the group accepted them. After a certain amount of rejection and hurt, you may not want to need others, but you still do. The key is to learn to be a part of a community while still protecting your personal boundaries and sense of identity. And we’ll talk more about that tomorrow.
Roger K. Allen, Ph.D. is an expert in personal transformation, leadership, and teams. His tools and methods have helped hundreds of businesses and tens of thousands of people transform the ways they work and live. To learn more, visit www.theheroschoice.com.
My purpose is to teach you strategies to replace negative patterns with a positive state of mind from which you can achieve your greatest desires and live a joyful and abundant life.
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"I’m living for me…not to prove to other people that I’m worthy of living. My self-identity was tied up in accomplishments and what others thought of me. It’s good to have that off my back."
Becky Tuttle
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