A Journey To Self-Actualization And Optimal Health
- Jan 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Written by: Dr. Mykim Tran, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
What is optimal health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Optimal health is a state of complete physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
What is self-actualization?
Self-actualization is a lifelong journey through which individuals are on a quest to learn, grow, and use their passion and creativity to contribute to a better society.
Self-actualization and optimal health
Individuals who are on the self-actualization journey will have a better understanding of themselves. They become more independent, trust themselves, and rely less on external factors in their decision-making. Therefore, they tend to make better decisions, often leading to successful outcomes.
Their mental health improves as they continue to learn and grow because they will become more confident and courageous to take more risks. They are motivated to achieve their goals. They can better cope with life stressors by knowing how to navigate and use resources to overcome challenges and failures.
These individuals will discover their ideal selves and personality, allowing them to relate positively with others. They tend to have deeper, healthier, and more meaningful interpersonal relationships than people not on a self-actualization journey.
They tend to lead to a more caring, problem-solving, and altruistic lifestyle. Abraham Maslow stated that individuals are born selfish, but as they move toward self-actualization, they gradually become selfless and compassionate to create a flourishing society.
Passion and life purpose
As these individuals continue to use their passions to improve society, their life purpose will be revealed. They will better understand what they are meant to do in life. Their passion is something they do. Their life purpose is when they realize their passion fulfills a need to create a better society. Their passion and life purpose improve their emotional well-being by allowing them to experience more happiness, joy, meaning, and purpose through their work and contribution. Their life purpose gives them hope and faith that a better future can still exist.
Legacy
Being on the self-actualization journey increases individuals’ intelligence and creativity because of the depth of knowledge and skills they develop over their lifespan. Therefore, they can better innovate and leave something significant behind for others to continue to benefit when they are gone.
As these individuals are alive, fulfilling their legacy, they develop a higher purpose in life. They create a sense of belonging, and what they do matters in the world, contributing to their spiritual and psychological well-being. They feel less lonely because they are more connected with themselves, others, their community, and the world. These individuals tend to develop qualities of kindness, compassion, and appreciation.
Their legacy gives these individuals something worth living for. It contributes to their mental health because they see themselves as worthy, increasing their self-acceptance, self-respect, and self-love.
Physical well-being
Individuals on the journey of self-actualization often experience more positive emotions that will help them develop more happy and less stress hormones. Therefore, they tend to have better digestive systems and a lower rate of sicknesses and diseases such as eating disorders.
They are more motivated to develop healthy habits to ensure they have the energy and strength to contribute to society. They are constantly on a personal growth journey to improve their body, mind, and spirit to be ready to overcome challenges.
Dr. Mykim Tran, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Mykim Tran is an expert in humanistic psychology. She is a keynote speaker, educator, life coach, author, and scientist. She is on a mission to help individuals create a powerful legacy that will carry on for eternity. In the process, individuals will transform into the best version of themselves and reach their full potential. Dr. Tran is the founder and CEO of Wake-Up Foundation, a non-profit agency, transforming individuals into social change agents to promote stronger communities. She received her bachelor's degree in Media Communications from the California State University of Sacramento, her master's degree in Psychology at Walden University, and her PhD in Humanistic Psychology at Saybrook University
