Existential Pain Series (2013: Human Being or Google Being,)

 

Existential Pain (Human Being or Google Being), 28 June 2013

Man is a being in search of meaning  - as famously said by philosopher Plato. 

 It is implied here that 'search of meaning (SOM)' is continually evolving, which makes sense. What was meaningful (read consequential or important) to me 30 years ago or 15 years ago is not the same as what is meaningful to me today. My concerns evolved from "Did dad forget to pick me up from school - I am almost last one waiting?" at the age of 5-6 to "Will I get good friends when I move to that new city/new college?" at the age of 15-16 to "Will I be able to perform well in my new job or get that promotion?" at the age of 29-30.  In a way our journey from birth-to-childhood-to-adulthood is a climb on Maslow's ladder*.   SOM evolves from the search for basic survival needs (at birth), to the search for personal security - physical/emotional (as a child) to the search for intimacy/sense of belonging (early adulthood) to the search for strength and self-respect (adulthood).

All right. That is a lot of searching. Are you implying that human being is, in big part, just a google being?? Haha...seriously, where are you going with this Philosophy 101 lesson on a beautiful, sunny Friday morning? You are such a bore!....well, just realize my dear friends that I totally know who you are if you are thinking this..

 Moving on.

Once the needs for love/belonging/esteem are satisfied reasonably, the next step on Maslow's ladder, the top-most, is self-actualization**.   On paper it means -  understand your full potential and live it. Accomplish the most you can, live your destiny, follow your passion/dream successfully. Some obvious examples of this are famous athletes and actors, other non-obvious are businessmen, teachers, care-givers.

Most people in my age group are on the 4th step of this ladder. But interestingly, their concerns have now changed to "How do you know he is the right one?" or "Sh$$, I need to pick up my kid from day care before 6pm!" to "Need to save money to send kids to good schools."   Regression back to the previous steps of ladder if you will..although not the same since motivations are exactly opposite - the role is that of a giver, not a receiver. Anyway. The point is that I don't see too many self-actualizers around. It is not that people are incapable of achieving their potential but life gets too busy with chores***.

 I hope that the seed of motivation to reach 5th step will find light one day and blossom for all of us...because honestly, I can't think of any other thing that will get me through this lovely phase of life in 30s! 

Being self-actualized can only make one a better person, a better wife, a better mother...a better whatever. 

 THE END 

* A very interesting concept in psychology about the theory of human motivations.

 **The characteristics of self-actualizers described here are surely very attractive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization   e.g. Efficient perceptions of reality, Spontaneity, Autonomy, Profound interpersonal relationships, Comfort with solitude and Peak experiences.

 Still I find this one tough to assimilate. Maybe because I am still struggling on the lower ladder....and to be honest, the only other place where I have heard this word is below :-)

My family is dysfunctional and my parents won't empower me. Consequently I'm not self actualized. -- Calvin 

***That is why I am not a big fan of 30s. It is the biggest chores-oriented phase of life.

 


 


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