Self-Actualization: Understand What It Really Means and The Path to Your Full Potential
I get so excited when I think about the upward spiral of human evolution! Call me a psychology and human development nerd, I am ok with that! The journey that we get to embark on as humans throughout the lifespan is wild. Our potential for depth increases dramatically throughout aging as we become closer to our unique magic. I identify as a lifelong learner and a large part of why I became a therapist was to better understand and integrate the human potential for growth and healing.
I am sure you have heard the phrases “be your best self” or “live up to your highest potential.” Maybe they have made you wonder, but what does that truly mean beneath the surface? Self-actualization isn’t about striving for perfection or constant self-improvement; it’s about coming back to your Self, coming home to your soul. Popularized by psychologist Abraham Maslow, the term describes the process of becoming fully yourself—integrating your gifts, desires, values, and inner truth into how you live and love. It is rooted in authenticity and takes the emphasis off of a cultural value of achievement. The path to self-actualization asks us to shed conditioning, heal the parts of ourselves we’ve disowned (the shadow), and allow our deepest essence to lead. In this post, we’ll explore what self-actualization really is, how it differs from self-improvement, and the practices that can help you embody your full potential with grounded, compassionate presence.
What Is Self-Actualization? The Academic Definition, and Self-Actualization in Psychology
In psychology, self-actualization is the process of realizing and expressing one’s full potential and true nature. Abraham Maslow placed it at the top of his Hierarchy of Needs, describing it as the fulfillment of one’s capacities and creativity once basic needs for safety, belonging, and esteem are met.
Other theorists expanded on this idea. Carl Rogers, a humanistic psychologist, saw self-actualization as the drive toward becoming a “fully functioning person”—someone who is open to experience, lives authentically, and trusts their inner guidance. Existential and transpersonal psychologists later connected self-actualization to spiritual growth and meaning-making.
In essence, self-actualization is the lifelong process of integrating who you are with how you live. It’s the bridge between inner truth and outer expression—the alignment of your being and your becoming. At Reverie, we align with the theories that emphasize spiritual development and meaning making as tenets of the process of self actualization.
Self-Actualization Theory and Its Implications
Maslow’s theory proposes that human beings are naturally motivated toward growth. When our foundational needs—physiological, safety, love/belonging, and esteem—are met, we naturally turn toward deeper fulfillment. This theory implies that the capacity for growth and wholeness is innate, not something we must earn.
For therapists, educators, and healers, self-actualization invites a shift in perspective: instead of “fixing” people, we nurture conditions that help their natural potential unfold. When individuals feel safe, seen, and supported, their creativity, compassion, and authenticity naturally rise to the surface.
Achieving Self-Actualization
Physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, and self actualization are the graduated levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Which human need is associated with reaching your full potential? According to Maslow, it is the need for self-actualization—the highest level of psychological development where a person becomes most grounded in who they are and what purpose they are here to serve. Achieving self-actualization isn’t a single moment of arrival—it’s an ongoing unfolding across emotional, relational, and creative dimensions.
Emotional: Self-actualization involves a deepening ability to feel, name, and integrate emotions. You stop avoiding discomfort and start listening to what your feelings are teaching you.
Relational: It expands through connection. As you grow, you form more authentic, reciprocal relationships that reflect your truth rather than your survival patterns.
Creative: Creativity isn’t just about art—it’s the act of expressing your inner world in outer form. Whether through writing, movement, or meaningful work, creativity becomes a spiritual practice of alignment.
Through therapy, mindfulness, and reflective practices, we begin to live from the inside out—where integrity replaces performance, and growth becomes joyfully self-directed.
How to Begin the Journey to Self-Actualization
The path begins with awareness, without judgment. The idea is to take the stance of a curious observer of yourself. With this in mind, can you take a moment to reflect and notice where your life feels out of alignment? Where do you say yes when you mean no? When do you silence your truth to feel a sense of belonging?
Questions to continue pondering:
What feels most alive in me right now?
What am I drawn to create, explore, or express? What lights me up?
What fears and/or limiting beliefs keep me from stepping fully into my authenticity?
Individual therapy, group work, journaling and meditation are all great ways to start to cultivate your curiosity about your inner world. Working with a therapist or joining a group at Reverie can help you explore these questions in a supportive space that honors your pace and your truth.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
― Rumi
Stages of Self-Actualization
While the process is deeply individual, it often moves through recognizable stages. These stages are not necessarily sequential, they are interdependent and movement through them is unique to each individual.
1. Awareness - You begin to see the ways you’ve adapted to survive and where those adaptations limit your authenticity. Getting acquainted with your shadow, or the repressed parts of your soul.
2. Healing - You turn inward with compassion, tending to old wounds and unmet needs rather than suppressing them.
3. Integration - Your insights begin to shape how you live—boundaries shift, relationships evolve, and you start acting from alignment instead of fear or shame.
4. Expansion - Reverence for life and your soul path inform your steps forward. You begin to express your gifts and desires outwardly, contributing to the world in ways that feel meaningful.
5. Embodiment - Self-actualization is you, being you. Your inner truth and outer life resonate in harmony and you experience a sense of existential meaning and fulfillment.
The State of Having Fulfilled Your Potential
Reaching your full potential doesn’t mean you have “arrived” or completed the journey. Rather, it’s an ongoing state of individuation and integration—where your choices, relationships, and work reflect your authentic values. You feel a sense of peace and purpose, yet remain open to continued evolution. It’s a way of being in the world where fulfillment and humility coexist.
Self-Actualization Signs: What Are the Characteristics of a Self-Actualized Person?
I like to think of people who have self-actualized as being closer to their humanity. What sets them apart is a felt sense of inner freedom, authenticity, and greater connection to all living beings.
Authenticity and Integrity
They live in alignment with their values, even when it’s inconvenient. Integrity replaces people-pleasing or fawning.
Deep Compassion
They recognize shared humanity and feel empathy for others (humans, animals, plants, the planet) without losing themselves in the process.
Comfort with Solitude
Rather than fearing aloneness, they find renewal in it. Solitude becomes a space for creativity, reflection, and growth.
Purpose and Creativity
They feel called to contribute in ways that express their essence—whether through art, service, or innovation.
Presence and Acceptance
They are rooted in the present, accepting life as it is while still engaging it with curiosity and care.
Self-Actualization Examples in Everyday Life
You might glimpse self-actualization in moments like:
Choosing authenticity over approval in a relationship.
Creating art or work that feels true to your essence, not based on what’s expected or trendy
Setting a boundary from self-respect rather than resentment.
Listening to intuition and honoring your body’s wisdom.
Finding gratitude and meaning even in life’s challenges.
These moments add up—they are evidence that you’re already living into your potential.
Steps to Self-Actualization
While there’s no single roadmap, these practices nurture self-actualization over time:
Therapy or group work – Explore your inner world in a relational context that supports healing and growth. (Reverie’s individual therapy and group offerings are designed for this deep work.)
Mindfulness and embodiment – Notice sensations, emotions, and impulses as a curious observer, without judgment. Take it in as information to learn and grow from.
Creative expression – Write, dance, paint, garden, sing, play an instrument—engage in whatever you feel moved or called to express creatively.
Authentic connection – Surround yourself with relationships that mirror your growth and celebrate your truth.
Ritual and reflection – Create small daily or weekly practices to reconnect with your purpose and intuition.
These steps can help to foster inner safety and trust, which lay the foundation for living life from an authentic, soul lead place.
Self-Actualization vs. Self-Realization: Why Are They Different
Though often used interchangeably, self-actualization and self-realization describe different aspects of growth.
Self-actualization focuses on expressing your unique potential—becoming the fullest version of your human self.
Self-realization transcends the personal; it’s the spiritual recognition that your essence is already whole and interconnected with all life.
In short, self-actualization is living your truth, while self-realization is knowing your true nature. Many spiritual paths weave both together, blending psychology and mysticism into a single process of awakening.
What You Should Know About Self-Actualization
How Rare Is Self-Actualization?
Maslow estimated that only a small percentage of people reach consistent self-actualization. But this doesn’t mean it’s unattainable—rather, it’s an evolving state that ebbs and flows throughout life.
At What Age Does Self-Actualization Occur?
There’s no set age. It often deepens in adulthood as individuals gain life experience, perspective, and emotional maturity. Yet glimpses of self-actualization can occur at any age when we act from authenticity and courage.
How Do You Know If You Have Reached Self-Actualization?
You may notice a sense of inner coherence—what you believe, feel, and do align naturally. You feel grounded, creative, and purposeful, even amid uncertainty. Most importantly, love serves as your guidepost in relationships with yourself and others, rather than fear or shame.
Why Self-Actualization Is Important
Self-actualization matters because it brings you back to yourSelf, to your authentic expression. There is only one of you in the world, therefore you are the only one who can fulfill your unique soul path. When you are on the journey of actualization you get to move closer and closer to the truth of who you are beneath social conditioning and self-doubt. You are reminded that fulfillment is not found in external success but in alignment with your soul.
When individuals become more actualized, communities benefit: empathy grows, creativity flourishes, and systems begin to reflect collective wholeness. We get to celebrate and uplift each other!
As you continue on your own path, remember that self-actualization is not a destination but a practice—a daily invitation to live in reverence with yourself and the world around you. If you would like support in this journey, let’s work together! Soul work is my favorite type of therapy.