Dr. Abraham Maslow described self-actualizing people as people who had experienced cosmic consciousness.As potential models of a self-actualizing person,Napoleon Hill identified the following historical figures;Emerson,Paine,Edison,Darwin,Lincoln,Burbank,Napoleon,Ford,and carnegie.
The following are some of the features of self-actualizing individuals.
(1)Realistic:-A self-actualizing person is real in whatever he does and has a more efficient perception of reality.He has a superior ability to reason,to see the truth,and he is quite logical and prudent.
(2)Self-Acceptance:-A self-actualizing person accepts himself,others and the natural world the way they are.He enjoys himself without regret or apology and has no unnecessary inhibitions.
(3)Spontaneity:-A self-actualizing person is spontaneous in his inner life.Thoughts and impulses are not hampered by convention.His ethics are autonomous and he is motivated to continual growth.He is not threatened or frightened by the unknown.
(4)Focus:-A self-actualizing person focuses on problems and people outside of himself.He is serene,devoted to duty and characterised by lack of worry.He has a mission in life which requires much energy,as it is his sole reason for existence.
(5)Detachment:-A self-actualizing person has need for privacy.He can be alone and not lonely.
(6)Morals:-A self-actualizing person has his own moral standards(appearing amoral to others),and lives by them.He is a self-starter,is responsible for himself,and owns his behaviour.
(7)Autonomy:-A self-actualizing person has a fresh,rather than stereotyped,appreciation of people and the basic good in life.
(8)Interpersonal relations:-A self-actualizing person has affection and sympathy for mankind.Kinship with the good,bad and ugly are all traits of the self-actualizing person.Truth is clear to him as he can see things others cannot.He has profound,intimate relationship with few and he is capable of greater love than others consider possible as he shares his benevolence,affection,and friendliness with everyone.
(9)Attitude:-A self-actualizing person is able to learn from anyone.He is humble and friendly with anyone regardless of class,education,political belief,race or colour.
(10)Achievement:-A self-actualizing person does not confuse between means and ends and does no wrong.He enjoys the here and now which motivates him to get to his goal.He makes the most tedious task an enjoyable game.
(11)Philosophy:-Jokes to a self-actualizing person are teaching metaphors,intrinsic to the situation and are spontaneous.He can laugh at himself,but he never makes jokes that hurt others.
(12)Creativity:-A self-actualizing person enjoys an inborn uniqueness that carries into everything he does.He is original,inventive,uninhibited,and he sees the real and true more easily.
(13)Imperfection:-A self-actualizing person is painfully aware of his own imperfections and joyfully aware of his growth process.He is impatient with himself when stuck and he feels real life pain as a result.
