What is the purpose of our existence? That is perhaps the oldest question that has not been answered conclusively to date. Self realization is one of the concepts that has been put forward to answer it. The concept has been acknowledged in psychology and spirituality. Generally, it is a process through which ultimate happiness is attained. It helps people to attain confidence and freedom from fear, inner peace, external happiness, a deeper experience of spirituality and so on.
Every one of us is involved in a struggle towards happiness. Although we experience this emotion from time to time, it is in most cases, short-lived. We slide back into a state of disappointment and have to begin the process once again. This goes on and on developing into a vicious cycle. Self-realization gives one the ability to attain a constant state of happiness and contentment without sliding back into disappointment.
The first step towards the realization of ultimate happiness is an understanding of who you are. The truth is that we are much more than our names and our bodies. There is a unique identity beneath the professional qualifications that we have or the characters for which we are known. When all these attributes are put aside, we are left with our real identities . Understanding this individual is the beginning of the process.
Differences in interpretation exist when one compares the western and eastern world definitions. In the western world, the concept has mainly been studied and interpreted by psychologists and psychodynamic analysts. It is understood as the process of one learning to fully understand their personality or character. In the eastern world, it features prominently among the major religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
In Buddhism, it is believed that there is no separate self. Everyone, it is claimed, is an undivided whole who may attain awakening. Awakening is the ability to realize this whole. In Sikhism, it is regarded as the act of purification of an individual from the false ego. After the purification, one attains a higher state of mind. They get to a position where they learn to avoid too much materialism and pursue oneness with the creator.
Sigmund Freud was the first psychoanalyst to put the concept forward. Later, his thoughts were advanced by his students such as Winnicott, Carl Jung and Erik Erikson among others. Modification have been made to the initial views over the years. Carl Jung is recognized for his individuation theory which he claimed is a lifelong process. Erickson, on the other hand, is known for his psychosocial development theory which attempts to describe the process of human development.
The two main contributors to these concept in humanistic psychology are Car Rodgers and Abraham Maslow. The two came up with a slightly different concept known as self-actualization. Their argument was that self-realization in humans is a progressive achievement that comes with continuous psychological growth. Through, growth, they went on to claim, human beings got the ability to unlock latent potentialities in different spheres of life.
Self-realization has existed for centuries. Different societies have interpreted it differently but the fundamental principles have been more or less the same. Today, there is widespread adoption of both western and eastern interpretations. Western esotericism is believed to have resulted from this interaction.
Every one of us is involved in a struggle towards happiness. Although we experience this emotion from time to time, it is in most cases, short-lived. We slide back into a state of disappointment and have to begin the process once again. This goes on and on developing into a vicious cycle. Self-realization gives one the ability to attain a constant state of happiness and contentment without sliding back into disappointment.
The first step towards the realization of ultimate happiness is an understanding of who you are. The truth is that we are much more than our names and our bodies. There is a unique identity beneath the professional qualifications that we have or the characters for which we are known. When all these attributes are put aside, we are left with our real identities . Understanding this individual is the beginning of the process.
Differences in interpretation exist when one compares the western and eastern world definitions. In the western world, the concept has mainly been studied and interpreted by psychologists and psychodynamic analysts. It is understood as the process of one learning to fully understand their personality or character. In the eastern world, it features prominently among the major religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
In Buddhism, it is believed that there is no separate self. Everyone, it is claimed, is an undivided whole who may attain awakening. Awakening is the ability to realize this whole. In Sikhism, it is regarded as the act of purification of an individual from the false ego. After the purification, one attains a higher state of mind. They get to a position where they learn to avoid too much materialism and pursue oneness with the creator.
Sigmund Freud was the first psychoanalyst to put the concept forward. Later, his thoughts were advanced by his students such as Winnicott, Carl Jung and Erik Erikson among others. Modification have been made to the initial views over the years. Carl Jung is recognized for his individuation theory which he claimed is a lifelong process. Erickson, on the other hand, is known for his psychosocial development theory which attempts to describe the process of human development.
The two main contributors to these concept in humanistic psychology are Car Rodgers and Abraham Maslow. The two came up with a slightly different concept known as self-actualization. Their argument was that self-realization in humans is a progressive achievement that comes with continuous psychological growth. Through, growth, they went on to claim, human beings got the ability to unlock latent potentialities in different spheres of life.
Self-realization has existed for centuries. Different societies have interpreted it differently but the fundamental principles have been more or less the same. Today, there is widespread adoption of both western and eastern interpretations. Western esotericism is believed to have resulted from this interaction.
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