Human potential

This is the potential of individuals for self-fulfilment, self-realization or self-actualization. Self-actualizing individuals are characterized by: capacity for acceptance, efficient perception of reality, spontaneity, transcendence of self-concern, detachment, independence of culture and environment, transcendence of environment, social feeling and compassion, deep but selective social relationships, tolerance and respect, ethical certainty, unhostile sense of humour, creativeness.

Realization of human potential is also characterized by expression and defence of values such as: truth, goodness, beauty, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness, perfection, completion of growth and development, justice and order, simplicity, richness and variety, effortlessness and unstrained action, playful amusement, and self-sufficiency.

Achievement of full human potential is also characterized by higher or transcendent states of consciousness giving: an awareness of undifferentiated inner unity, a sense of underlying oneness behind the empirical multiplicity of external sense impressions, a sense of transcendence of space and time, a deeply felt positive mood of joy and peace, a sense of sacredness, a heightened sense of objectivity and insight into reality and a transcendence of self.

Every human being, in order to maintain a state of health at all levels, requires to mitigate the effects of low potential in specific areas and to augment those areas where his potentiality is high. These requirements have been defined as basic human needs. Various definitions or divisions of potential into specific areas have been postulated, with every potential having its corresponding need. The favourable resolution of a potential/needs polarity results the development of a particular strength or virtue. Explorations of the nature of human potential may occur: as research, through humanistic and transpersonal psychology; as therapy, through some schools of therapy; or through a variety of personal growth techniques.