According to Maslow (2013), many of my needs on the hierarchy are already met concerning psycho-sociological and safety categories. I can breathe, I am not malnourished, and on most nights I get enough sleep, and maintain relative homeostasis. I am also in control of safety of my body, understand my own morals, feel most of my family is safe, and do not feel anybody is attempting to claim my property or resources. Lester (2013), points out that not every item in a category needs to be satisfied before one can reach self-actualization, but that it is ideal. For example, at times I worry about employment, both current and in the future, but it is not enough to prevent me from achieving completion of any facet concerning love and belonging, of which I still struggle. However, though I am able to construct a frame of mind that is able to overcome my worries of employment in order to feel loved or belonged, it is still important that I gain a sense of control and security concerning employment in order to maintain self-actualization once I am able to reach it. In regards to love and belonging, some relationships with my family are strained, and it prevents me from feeling completely loved, or as though I have a total sense of belonging. Friends and sexual intimacy fill this void, and allow for a sense of love and belonging, but it is incomplete. Moreover, I also struggle with esteem issues because of this. While I have no problem respecting others, at times my confidence and self-esteem are very low. This causes me to, at times, lack gaining personal achievements which is a classic sign of strained personal relationships . If I am to achieve self-actualization, I will need to correct these family relationships and strengthen them, as well as work on my self-esteem. I feel then I will have the spontaneity and creativity I am missing, which is a vital part of self-actualization.
References
Lester, D. (2013). Measuring Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Psychological Reports, 15-17.
Maslow, A. H. (2013). Toward a Psychology of Being. New York: Start Publishing LLC.
