Positive Psychology: From Recovery to Self-Actualization

Source: Art by Alexi Berry, used with permission

As mentioned in my last post, I had been working on a presentation for a workshop focused on Positive Psychology, The Recovery Model, and Self-Actualization. As that presentation was for a limited audience, I thought it would be a good idea to summarize some of the highlights for a bit larger audience.

For those unfamiliar with Positive Psychology, here is a brief summation: the idea is that people have a drive to seek happiness (elusive as it may be), to be all they can, and to transcend surviving and create a meaningful life. Research in Positive Psychology (PP) focuses on what helps people thrive, and on the fallacies of the mind that might contribute to errors in seeking positive experience.

Martin Seligman, The psychologist credited most with bringing PP to the level of popularity it currently possesses, described three aspects of a happy life: The Pleasant life- this is day to day pleasures, and includes savoring and mindfulness (Pleasant Life is considered the weakest aspect contributing to happiness); The Good life (also called Engaged Life)- is enacting one’s strengths and values (Seligman, 2002, p.263). It includes “flow” (a complete immersion in what one is doing, usually creative, that results in a lack of self-awareness and an altered perception of time passing). It also includes knowing what one’s highest strengths are and recrafting life to use them as much as possible (Seligman, 2013); and The Meaningful life- where, according to Seligman, one should: “Use your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than you are” (Seligman, 2002, p.263).

Of course, there is more to PP than can be summarized in two paragraphs. “The term ‘positive psychology’ is a broad one, encompassing a variety of techniques that encourage people to identify and further develop their own positive emotions, experiences, and character traits” (Harvard Health Publishing, 2008). Techniques include focusing on gratitude, being mindful, challenging the inherent negative bias of the mind, value clarification, strength exploration, self-compassion, and kindness boosters (doing things for others).

I have written previously about The Recovery Model (Recovery for Everyone), and as the title suggests, believe this model is applicable to everyone. According to SAMSHA, there are four aspects that support recovery: Health—overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms and making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being; Home—having a stable and safe place to live; Purpose—conducting meaningful daily activities and having the independence, income, and resources to participate in society; and Community—having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope (SAMSHA, 2019).

According to The American Psychological Association, SAMSHA, and NAMI, there are 10 fundamental components of recovery:

• Self-Direction- Individuals determine their own path of recovery with autonomy, independence, and control of their resources.

• Individualized and Person-Centered- There are multiple pathways to recovery based on an individual’s unique strengths as well as his or her needs, preferences, experiences, and cultural background.

• Empowerment- Consumers have the authority to participate in all decisions that will affect their lives, and they are educated and supported in this process.

• Holistic- Recovery encompasses an individual’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community. Recovery embraces all aspects of life, including housing, social networks, employment, education, mental health and health care treatment, and family supports.

• Non-Linear- Recovery is not a step-by step process but one based on continual growth, occasional setbacks, and learning from experience.

• Strengths-Based- Recovery focuses on valuing and building on the multiple capacities, resiliencies, talents, coping abilities, and inherent worth of individuals. The process of recovery moves forward through interaction with others in supportive, trust-based relationships.

• Peer Support- Mutual support plays an invaluable role in recovery. Consumers encourage and engage others in recovery and provide each other with a sense of belonging.

• Respect- Eliminating discrimination and stigma are crucial in achieving recovery. Self-acceptance and regaining belief in oneself are particularly vital.

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• Responsibility- Consumers have a personal responsibility for their own self-care and journeys of recovery. Consumers identify coping strategies and healing processes to promote their own wellness.

• Hope- This is the catalyst of the recovery process and provides the essential and motivating message of a positive future. Peers, families, friends, providers, and others can help foster hope. (NAMI, 2020)

I have focused on self-actualizing several times in my writing (Cheating, Moral Development, and Self-Actualization, Politics and Self-Actualization, The Psychology of Enlightenment, Why You Shun Enlightenment, The Psychopathology of Normal). To summarize, self-actualization is believed to be the ultimate goal of human existence. The belief is many do not seek it as they get caught up in survival needs, despite these needs being largely satisfied. Yet internally one might feel as if something is missing, and that yearning points toward self-actualization (or enlightenment, which I use interchangeably). A major component of self-actualization is a purpose bigger than oneself, a mission to help others and make the world a better place, a goal outside of oneself.

Maslow identified eight behaviors people can engage in to self-actualize:

• “First, self-actualization means experiencing fully, vividly, selflessly, with full concentration and total absorption.” (P.45)

• “Second, let us think of life as a process of choices, one after another. At each point there is a progression choice and a regression choice.” (P.45)

• “Third, to talk of self-actualization implies that there is a self to be actualized.” (P.45).

• “There is a self, and what I have sometimes referred to as ‘listening to the impulse voices’ means letting the self emerge.” (P.46).

• “Fourth, when in doubt, be honest rather than not.” (P.46)

• “Fifth,… making an honest statement involves daring to be different, unpopular, nonconformist.” (P.46).

• “Sixth, self-actualization is not only an end state but also the process of actualizing one’s potentialities at any time, in any amount.” (P.47).

• Seventh, peak experiences are transient moments of self-actualization. They are moments of ecstasy which cannot be bought, cannot be guaranteed, and cannot even be sought.” (P.47).

• “Eighth, finding out who one is, what he is, what he likes, what he doesn’t like, what is good for him and what is bad, where he is going and what his mission is--opening oneself up to himself—means the exposure of psychopathology. It means identifying defenses, and after defenses have been identified, it means finding the courage to give them up.” (P.48-9). (Maslow, A. 1971)

The summation of the presentation focuses on the similarities between the three models. Some of the common themes between the three are: Creating meaning and purpose in one’s life, the cultivation of what is best in oneself, flow states, deeper relations / connections, creativity, gratitude, enacting one’s strengths and values, finding growth in challenges, acceptance (for more on acceptance see my post “Acceptance: It Isn't What You Think”), hope / spirituality, honesty, and a focus on the means rather than the ends (understanding goals in life are more about the journey than the destination).

I wrapped up the seminar with a topic that has been reoccurring for me (I read an article where it was discussed, then heard the topic again in a podcast a few months later). Eulogy goals versus resume goals may be the best summation of the similarities in these models: We tend to focus on what we accomplish that makes our resume look good, rather than what would result in one having lived a good life. Eulogy goals are what you would want thought about you at the end of your life. Generally, what you achieved financially, academically or in business will not define your life. Rather, how people viewed you and the life you lived will be your legacy. Self-actualization (and the paths that contribute to it, including PP and The Recovery Model) should you chose to pursue it, will have much more to do with your eulogy goals than any accomplishments you attained for yourself.

Copyright William Berry, 2020