SELF-ACTUALIZATION, STELLAR SELF-CARE, MOVING TOWARD MASTERY & MORE!
I have never been one for small talk – I am more interested in getting to the big talk. And by big talk, I want to hear and understand what makes people tick, what makes them uniquely interesting and what leads them to do (or not do) things.
In speaking with our own team, and with people across many different workplaces and industries, I am continuing to see some beautiful themes emerge. As such, I could not land on just one topic for this blog. In what very much feels like the back-to-school season, I am celebrating people of all ages who feel called to learn, grow and shape their lives in meaningful ways.
A recent team meeting really got my wheels turning. I simply asked this question: “What is one thing you are working on right now?”
And here are the answers that were given:
Setting boundaries
Giving back to myself
Listening to my intuition
Preparing for retirement
Learning new languages
Giving back to the community
Developing my coaching skills
Cultivating new mind/body skills
Focusing on work that brings me joy
Clarifying my values and how I embody them
Intentionally adding more running and yoga into my day
As I sat with this list, I landed on the themes below. I hope you enjoy exploring these, whether within your own life or the lives of those you work to support through your programs.
Self-Actualization
Known as the drive to reach your full potential, it is theorized that achieving it is difficult when basic physiological and psychological needs are not met. I encourage you to take a deeper dive into the theories and characteristics of self-actualization here.
Continually check-in with yourself and others. Do you feel safe, secure and satiated? Are you sleeping well? It’s hard to do the big things when the basics remain a barrier.
Stellar Self-Care
Self-care can be described as using your ability to direct and manage your health and well-being in all aspects of your life. To practice stellar self-care, you must stay self-aware of what choices and behaviors will best support your mind/body, spirit, environment and a sense of community. I also like to think of self-care as “filling your bucket” or “recharging your batteries,” but it can be much more targeted than that – especially when considering healthcare needs.
Start each day with a self-care intention – and bonus points if you write them down, as the practice of self-care will be twice as likely to occur that way.
Moving Toward Mastery
Mastery speaks to possessing comprehensive (and readily available) knowledge or skills. While many people do achieve mastery in their professional work, hobbies or passions, there’s evidence that even the pursuit of mastery is fulfilling – meaning the journey is a positive experience, not the destination (achievement) alone.
Some say it takes about 10,000 hours of experience to reach mastery … but seriously, who’s counting? When something puts you in flow, time flies. Which activities have you been so immersed in that you stop watching the clock?
Cognitive Needs
Cognitive needs reflect the desire to be mentally stimulated. Without this, many of us would feel bored or static – boo! The brain likes novelty and that comes in the form of learning too. We also know that staying a lifelong student and flexing those mental muscles will support healthy aging (and less cognitive decline).
My favorite strategy here is to stay curious. If a topic piques your interest, lean in! Jot it in a journal or hop on Google – please, please do not ignore what interests you.
If we, Wellness Collective, can support you – personally, professionally or organizationally – we are just one click away. My theory is that wellness is better together. 😉
Author: Katy Tombaugh