A Theory of Personal Development

There are many ideas surrounding personal development, one of which is detailed below - Abraham Maslow's process of Self Actualisation.

Self Actualisation

Maslow (1970) suggests that all individuals have an in-built need for personal development which occurs through the process called self-actualisation.

The extent to which people are able to develop depends on certain needs being met and these needs form a hierarchy.  Only when one level of need is satisfied can a higher one be developed.  As change occurs throughout life, however, the level of need motivating someone’s behaviour at any one time will also change.

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• At the bottom of the hierarchy are the basic physiological needs for food, drink, sex and sleep, i.e., the basics for survival. 
• Second are the needs for safety and security in both the physical and economic sense. 
• Thirdly, progression can be made to satisfying the need for love and belonging. 
• The fourth level refers to meeting the need for self-esteem and self-worth.  This is the level most closely related to ‘self-empowerment’. 
• The fifth level relates to the need to understand.This level includes more abstract ideas such as curiosity and the search for meaning or purpose and a deeper understanding. 
• The sixth relates to aesthetic needs of beauty, symmetry and order.  At the top of Maslow’s hierarchy, is the need for self-actualisation. 

Maslow (1970, p.383) says that all individuals have the need to see themselves as competent and autonomous, also that every person has limitless room for growth. 

Self-actualisation refers to the desire that everybody has ‘to become everything that they are capable of becoming’.  In other words, it refers to self-fulfilment and the need to reach full potential as a unique human being.

For Maslow, the path to self-actualisation involves being in touch with your feelings, experiencing life fully and with total concentration.

Maslow, A. H. (1970), Motivation and Personality, (2nd Edition), Harper & Row, New York.

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How To Develop Self Confidence - 5 Enlightening And Educative Tips You Should Know

One of the most helpful tips is choosing the right friends. This is because the people surrounding someone play an important role in determining how good one feels about himself or herself. Getting friends who are always saying negative things about you can significantly lower your self confidence. This is because these negative comments will ultimately get into your mind and you will feel as if the other people are better then you. But if you surround yourself with friends who are always saying encouraging things you can effectively regain your self confidence. To know the right friends you just need to establish the friends you feel happy whenever you are together.

Another helpful tip on how to develop self confidence is to always dress appropriately. This is mainly because most people judge others according to the way they are dressed. Majority of people with self confidence issues usually dress in a way that they will not be outstanding when amongst other people. This is because they do not want to be the centre of attention because they do not have the necessary confidence. But dressing properly will significantly boost your confidence because you will feel as if you are equal or even better then the other people. This is especially when attending a function with a certain dress code. You do not hoe to dress in an exaggerated manner. Instead you just need to choose the clothes that send the message that you believe in yourself.

Being healthy is also an important tip when it comes to developing self confidence. This is because besides looking good one also gets improved mental strength. Some people with self confidence issues usually neglect their health where they spend most of their time indoors eating unhealthy foods. As a result, such people become overweight and this has a negative effect on their self confidence. Some of the helpful things one should do to be healthy include eating balance diet and exercising regularly. This will give you a good looking body and all your organs including the brain will be functioning efficiently therefore making you feel good about yourself.

It is also helpful to practice being around people so as to develop self confidence. As noted some of the people with self confidence issues tend to avoid places where they will be meeting other people since they feel the other people are better than them. To eliminate this feeling it is advisable to try and spend time amongst other people. This does not have to be amongst strangers or huge crowds of people. Instead you can just spend time amongst friends or attend fun activities where people interact freely. When you interact with people you will come to know that they also have their weaknesses and they are not as perfect as you had initially thought. You can start by interacting with a few people and this will give you the necessary confidence to interact even with huge crowds of people.

Doing what you are good in is also a helpful tip on how to develop self confidence. This is because many people lose their confidence when they try and fail things which they are not good in. This is especially when certain activities seems to be popular than others and therefore you try doing them. In such situations, losing or not being the best lowers the self confidence significantly. However, if you do what you are good in you are more likely to be better than the other people and this will significantly boost your self confidence. All what you need is to establish what you are good in even if it is not that popular amongst other people. Therefore, you can effectively regain your self confidence through implementing the outlined tips on how to develop self confidence.

By Zahir Rizky
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