Today’s post continues on from Friday’s post.
Briefly, to refresh your memory, self-actualization is all about being who you truly are–manifesting YOUR talents, skills, and abilities in service of YOUR destiny, which is the reason why you were born on Earth.
Self-actualization is about feelings; not emotions, necessarily, but rather feelings of ecstasy, joy, fulfillment, gratification, reverence, and the like.
It’s about feeling happy but yet it’s so much deeper, fuller, and richer than that.
Below are a few questions to ask yourself. These are designed to familiarize yourself with your feelings of happiness–exactly what it feels like for YOU–and where in your body you feel happiness. Answering these questions, along with the answers from Friday’s post’s questions, will help you home in on your version of happiness.
What does it feel like when you’re happy?
Perhaps you get a soft, cuddly feeling in your chest when you’re happy, or maybe your whole body feels light enough to float away on the softest of breezes. Perhaps your head feels clear when you’re happy and it’s when you can do your sharpest, most incisive thinking.
Where do you feel it in your body?
Does your head get a fizzy, effervescent feeling? Do your arms, legs, fingers, and toes get all tingly when you’re happy? Do you feel a blooming and opening up of your chest when you feel happy? Get specific with where you feel happiness and your description of that feeling.
What thoughts are you thinking when you’re happy; what are you saying to yourself when you are happy?
Are you saying things like “I’ve got the world by the tail!” or “I can do anything!” or “I’m on fire!” or “Wow!” or “I love how this feels!”
What are the specific shadings of “happy” that you’re feeling?
Here are a few adjectives to help you describe what you’re feeling: elated, ecstatic, empowered, strong, vibrant, powerful, mighty, triumphant, unbeatable. Get out your trusty Thesaurus (or use the online one http://www.thesaurus.com ) to find the exact adjectives that pinpoint your feelings.
What tasks are you doing when you’re happy?
Are you working with your hands or building something? Are you being creative in an artistic sense? Are you problem-solving? Are you using your brain power?
What do you do to show you are happy?
Do you smile; are you cheerful? Are you more gregarious and out-going or do you prefer to sit quietly and bask in the glow of your feelings? Does your happiness energize you to keep going or do more?
Take the time to answer these questions. Let them inspire other questions–or other shadings of these same questions–so that you can pinpoint your unique definition and personal meaning of “being happy”.
Remember: don’t be surprised or feel awkward that your definition is nothing like anyone else’s, and what you feel and where you feel it when you’re happy is also particular to you. It’s supposed to be that way!! You won’t be happy following someone else’s idea of happiness. You want your happiness to be tailor-made to YOU!
In Part 4, we’ll talk about how to apply traditional goal-setting techniques to our intangible goals.
If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments below. Thanks!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
Yes I Can Pep Talks 
These questions are very helpful to my process of homing in on being aligned with well-being and happiness. It’s not enough to just say “be happy”. Your questions help me to notice what leads me to those feelings.
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Hi Julie!
Thank you for your comments. I’m so glad to be of help to you. Self-actualization is a process, one that we never complete. If we stay curious, we’re discovering new interests which lead us to other, sometimes deeper, parts of ourselves. Keep going in your process! Keep asking questions of yourself!
Your Friend and Pep Pal,
Lauren
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