The document discusses maturity and self-actualization. It describes maturity as competently facing life's challenges and developing one's full potential. The psychologist Abraham Maslow identified self-actualization as the highest stage of human growth involving fully using one's talents. Self-actualized people are said to see reality more accurately, accept themselves and others better, focus on problems outside themselves, value privacy, be self-reliant yet compassionate, experience mystical feelings, appreciate spontaneously, have deep relationships, and have a strong sense of right and wrong. The document provides these qualities as examples of a mature, self-actualized person.

1. Theosophical Society in the PhilippinesSELF-TRANSFORMATIONOn Maturity and Self-ActualizationPeace Center of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines. Tel. No. (632)741-57-40; Fax No. (632)740-3751; Email: tspeace@info.com.ph

2. On Maturity and Self-ActualizationI. Why Important A mature person is one who not only can face the problems and challenges of life competently, but one who is able to develop his or her own potentials to a higher degree than the average person. It results in fulfillment in living.

3. II. How is Maturity Measured? There is no standard way of measuring maturity, but there are approaches towards a better understanding of what a mature person is. In general we can speak of a mature person as: Capable of meeting life's challenges effectively

4. They tend to live a happier and more meaningful life, and

5. They are able to develop their potentials much more fully than others. One of the most significant attempts to identify qualities of a mature person was made by the psychologist Abraham Maslow, who developed the concept of Self-Actualization. He speaks of four stages of human growth identified in terms of the needs: Basic body needs, safety needs, belonging, esteem, and the highest being meta-needs or Self-actualization needs. Self-actualization is roughly defined as "full use of talents, capacities, potentialities of an individual." Self-actualized people are the psychologically healthy people of the world. It will therefore be of use for us to study the qualities of such individuals.

6. III. Qualities of Self-Actualized PeopleThey see reality more correctly.They have a minimum of biases and attitudes that tend to distort their perception of things and events. Example: The chairman of a meeting felt insulted that one of the persons attending was sleeping during the meeting. The chairman felt that the person was not interested or did not feel the meeting important enough. In reality, the person was in the hospital the whole evening and had no sleep at all. The opposite of this quality is neurosis, which tends to distort perception of reality. Mature persons tend to be able to accept reality better than immature people. Immature people tend to rationalize, defend or justify himself or situations. 2. Mature people are able to accept themselves, others and nature, better than the average.In addition to seeing things more objectively, mature people can accept what they see. They tend to complain less about things than the average. They can accept and face their own defects and shortcomings. Because they can accept themselves and others, they tend not to be artificial in their relationships. III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

7. 3. Mature people are focused on problems outside themselves, rather than focus on themselves.They are not ego-centered. They are mission-oriented. Usually, these tasks are non-personal or unselfish work for the benefit of others. III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

8. 4. They are detached and value privacy or solitude.They tend to be undisturbed by things that normally bother other people. They are calm and serene.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

9. 5. They are autonomous, self-reliant, and not dependent on culture or environments.They have transcended many of the common needs of other people such as material needs, social approval, safety, etc. Their satisfaction comes from the growth process itself. They maintain serenity and happiness in the midst of conditions that can drive others to suicide.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

10. 6. They are compassionate and sensitive to their fellowmen, a sense of universal brotherhood.From this arises the genuine desire to help the human race.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

11. 7. They have mystical experiences, or the oceanic feeling.It is intense experience accompanied by a loss of sense of self, sometimes called "peak experiences." .III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

12. 8. They have spontaneity and freshness of appreciation.Simplicity of nature. Spontaneous appreciation based on very simple values.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

13. 9. Deep and profound interpersonal relationships.Relationships are not shallow. More capable of genuine love.. III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

14. 10. They are democratic in attitude and do not discriminate according to race, sex or religion.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

15. 11. They have a very clear sense of right and wrong.Not according to some cultural conventions, but to an innate perception of what is ethical or unethical.III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

16. 12. They are creative and have wholesome sense of humor.Philosophical and non-hostile sense of humor III. Qualities of Self-Actualized People

17. THANK YOUAll rights reserved. Copyright (1995) by the Peace Center, Theosophical Society in the Philippines, 1 Iba Street, Quezon City, Philippines. This outline may be reproduced provided this notice appears.