Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who studied a selection of the finest and most successful people who had ever lived to find out what they had in common.  Read on to find out the common factors of people such as Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and Albert Schweitzer and how they apply to your life.

Maslow identified the following characteristics of what he called “self actualized” person.  These are synonymous with the characteristics of the person who has regained freedom:

• Reality centred – embraces objective reality without avoidance.  Does not fit the world to his own fears or needs and accepts oneself and others.  Unfrightened by the unknown due to a superior ability to reason and perceive truth.  Logical and efficient.
• Problem centred – treats the problems of life as something to be overcome and not simply complaining or giving in.  Derives satisfaction from work.  Serene and unflappable.
• Means are as important as the end – sees the journey as being as important as the destination.
• Comfortable in one’s own skin – enjoys solitude without feeling lonely.
• Meaningful relationships – enjoys deep and intimate personal relationships with a few close friends instead of superficial relationships with many people.
• Values privacy and independence – has a rich inner life that needs to be cherished and protected
• Autonomy – able to live independently, retains dignity amongst confusion, responsible for one’s own life.
• Resist enculturation – does not mindlessly accept the values of a society and resists pressure to think a certain way, is a non-conformist, but does not mindlessly rebel.  Transcends cultural values.
• Sense of humour – able to see the funny side of their own life and the human condition, but never uses “humour” to demean or hurt another person
• Spontaneity and simplicity – prefers to be themselves, not pretentious or artificial or showing outward non-conformity for its own sake but is also thoughtful and considerate of others.  Work becomes play.
• Sense of humanity – accepts people and is friendly to all regardless of class, education, racial or ethnic origin.  Willing to learn from anyone.
• Humility and respect – respects individual difference and shows interest in others and compassion.  Does not want power over other people, or be subject to others.
• Strong ethics – has own strong heartfelt sense of justice rather than simply echoing what is considered politically correct, or doing what is expedient.  May seem amoral to others due having one’s own sense of morality.
• Freshness of appreciation – not jaded, finds wonder in the day-to-day rhythm of life.  Has a fresh and not a stereotyped view of life.
• Creative – inventive, original and expressive.
• Peak experiences – feels at one with the infinite, likely to have had mystical experiences that enrich life and give eternal perspective.

Maslow also identified the following needs of the self actualised person (the opposite quality is shown in the other column):

Again, you will see that the needs of the self actualised person are consistent with what the free person requires.  The opposite characteristics are opposed to freedom and happiness in life.

Think of the greatest moral leaders in history: Jesus Christ, St Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and you will find that they had these characteristics.  Irrespective of their outer situations, they were free inside.  They refused to dwell in the prison of the mind.  Their inner world changed their outer world, and the outer world of other people for the better.

Tags: how to regain your freedom, Self-actualization

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