Self-Actualization: Recursions of Thriving

By Deborah Merchant

Tools to Thrive is a monthly webinar participation for exploring what supports this human system in thriving.  ‘Thriving’ means to grow or develop well or vigorously, prosper; flourish.  For many of us, this means being able to live well beyond just surviving, what lots of us in modern Western society call ‘getting out of the rat race’.  Maslow’s ideas regarding self-actualization describe that once survival needs are met, then the idea of what is needed expands to the next greater whole.

The process of ‘self-actualization’ really means that there are recursions of thriving.  In other words, when you are an infant, thriving means being warm, having plenty to eat, regular diaper changes, consistency of care-givers, love and being kept safe.  At this point in life, survival needs seem the same as what is required to thrive.  There really isn’t much conceptual awareness of more or better life than that in infancy, although the seeds of a much bigger potential are, of course, in each of us.  Yet marvelous mechanisms of growth and development propel our systems to constantly move to new heights, new greater wholes, of physical, mental, emotional (and other intelligences), and spiritual attunement and attainment.  At each stage of life, the sense or awareness of thriving changes, and has limitations, with a seed of being waiting to germinate in each of us.

In our monthly call, we have so far begun to explore ideas, choices, behaviors, conditions, environments and other phenomenon which facilitate thriving.  This month, we’ll explore what thriving is for each of us at this moment in our lives, and how that might be relative to where we were in life and where we’re going.  Also, we will explore some of the myths around thriving.  We will also gather ideas for future conversations: not because thriving is something outside ourselves, possibly just out of reach, possibly unattainable.  We’ll explore and gather topics for future conversations because thriving is hard-wired into the human system, and we cannot help but reach for that next recursion of self-expression, fulfillment, contribution.