Lyle L. Simpson - WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE? A SEQUEL TO A HUMANIST PERSPECTIVE: MASLOW

8/14/2019 Lyle L. Simpson - WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE? A SEQUEL TO A HUMANIST PERSPECTIVE: MASLOW

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR

YOUR LIFE?

A SEQUEL TO A HUMANIST PERSPECTIVE:

ABRAHAM MASLOW'S PURPOSE

FOR YOUR LIFE

Lyle L. Simpson

"Nothing is neither right nor wrong, but thinking makes it so."

A previous paper, setting forth an essay on Abraham Maslow's

purpose for your life,Essays on Humanism, Humanists of Houston, Volume

11, May 2003, introduced Maslow's theory of actualization as a scientific

substantiation for a human purpose in life, justifying our own unique

existence. Maslow's contribution to the science of psychology was to

recognize that there are distinctly different levels of categories of needs; andthat our behavior and orientation to life vary significantly depending upon

within which level we are then primarily living.

Peak Experience

Basic

Security

Social

Ego

Actualization

Average RelativeStrength of Needs

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Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

For those not familiar with this prior paper, in summary, Maslow

discovered that needs may be categorized by the strength of the drive level


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caused by their deficiency. In other words, if a person is sufficiently hungry,

or has need to go to the bathroom, their behavior will address those issues to

the deference of their concern for others, or their wish to continue listening to

Beethoven. Thus, the relative drive strength of needs can be measured

against other needs. Maslow found that all needs may be placed into one of

five distinct levels.

Survival is the primary concern of all living organisms. Certainneeds are essential to assure survival of any species, including humans. The

fundamental need level is physiological; it includes those factors required tosustain life. Maslow classified these as "basic needs. Once these basic

needs are sufficiently attended to, the next level of needs, which Maslow

labels security needs, emerge. Gratification of these needs assures the

future satisfaction of our fundamental needs. We naturally feather our

nests in the struggle for survival. When secure, social needs emerge. Weseek friendships and love relationships, and we tend to bring others within

our own defense mechanisms to assure the satisfaction of their basic needs.

We want to be appreciated, and have need to belongto fit into a network of

social relationships.

Maslow discovered when these physiological needs at the lowerlevels are at least minimally satisfied growth needs will emerge. We then

extend our behavior outwards for recognition. These needs, Maslow

classified, as esteem or ego needs, are followed by self actualization

needs. To reach these levels of needs we must become open to our

immediate environment. The goal is to actualize our full potential. When we

are fully integrated, if all of our needs are satisfied, we are then in position to

reach a state of contentment where we may resonate in harmony with our

environment, including the whole of nature. If we do, we would then be able

to recognize our sense of peace and well-being, which Maslow labeled a

peak-experience. If achieved, we would realize at that moment that we are

then fully alive. It is an exhilarating and liberating feeling. Identification of

these two higher levels is the most important of Maslows discoveries.The strength of needs diminish as we pass from lower level, or

deficiency needs, to a higher level, or growth needs. To be effective, barriers

must have greater strength. Thus barriers for growth, including defense

mechanisms, can easily block the progression from a lower level of living to

higher levels as we mature. Barriers result in diminished capacity for growth

and development. People live within their safe zone, venturing beyond

only with great effort, or because of an outside intervening force that is

stronger than the barrier. To circumvent a barrier without outside influence

typically requires bridging, or bypassing, the barrier by creating new paths as

a result of further education, or new training. The barrier is still present, but it

no longer limits our range of living because we have acquired another path.

This is why continuing education, with an open and receptive mind, isessential for healthy growth.


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Maslow recognized that the natural psychological progression for

each human life is to grow through the hierarchy of needs from the basic

level, as an infant, to the point of actualization, at least as mature adults. This

is a difficult developmental process. As infants we do not get to choose our

own environment, nor our caregivers, or even the customs that are thrustupon us. However, we must interact with our environment, and others within

our culture, in order to survive. These factors condition our behavior and

easily create barriers to our growth; some blocking the natural progression

toward the actualization of our full potential. To continue normal growth

along our natural path requires conscious effort to limit, or circumvent,

barriers. This first requires recognition that a barrier exists. Many people

view the confines of barriers as their natural world, and feel safer living

within known parameters, and therefore are content with their currentexistence. Removal of barriers requires more effort and risk than many are

willing to endure. Thus these people continue to live a restricted life. Many

live without the knowledge that higher, more rewarding, opportunities are

available to them, through their continued growth. Eliza Doolittle spent theentire movie in My Fair Lady learning how to grow beyond her earlier life.

If we are able to eliminate our barriers, most people will naturally

progress toward actualization, or fulfillment, of their own existence. Maslow

provides a framework for us to interpret each step in the natural progression

of our life. Fulfilling, or at least diminishing the influence, of the first four

levels of needs is necessary in order to reach a "peak experience". At that

point, hopefully, we will experience being totally in resonance with our own

reality. For Maslow, actualization of our own life is the purpose for each

individual's unique existence. Maslow shows the normal path, and provides

an understanding of the goal for each of our lives. Additionally, he instructs

us how to recognize when we have become a self-actualized person, i.e., one

who has for that moment maximized our own existence.We have all experienced attending grade school. For most, it was a

great experience during the earliest part of our life. It prepared us for the next


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level of our growth. Few really feel the need to repeat the experience. Grade

School has served its purpose for us. We now enjoy seeing the benefit of the

experience only through our grandchildren. It may be great for them, but we

even have a sense of relief that the experience is no longer important for us.

Although we have acquired all we wish from that part of our life, we may

still enjoy the memories; but feeling fulfilled, have no need to live through

that experience again. That does not mean there is any thing wrong with us.Quite the contrary. It simply means that, for that part of our life, we are

fulfilled.If we have actualized our own life, we will have feelings of having

fully lived, having experienced our own life to its fullest. We will then no

longer need to fear death. We can then recognize that our own death is

inevitable; not sought, but no longer really an issue for our concern.

Protecting our family so that they may carry on our mission will be far morerelevant to us.

In my prior paper I used the example of my own personal orientation

to life, demonstrating how Maslow's theory can be personally applied. I made

a serious mistake when I did not include in my paper that there are also other

orientations to life -- the result for some members of my family wasdevastating. Some were left with feelings that if they did not measure their

own life by my standards, they must be less of a person. That notion cannot

be further from the truth. My family's concern is a good example of how

problems arise when we each assess others' only from our own point of

reference. There are many paths for a fulfilled life. That is the issue I am

addressing in this paper.

I made the statement that, "To me, only two aspects of life are truly

relevant. First, our own life is meaningful to ourselves to the extent that we

share in happiness (Meaning fulfilling Maslow's hierarchy of needs to

achieve actualization of our own life; which will be recognized as we achieve

a 'peak experience'.) Second, our life is significant to the extent the world

becomes a better place because we have lived. The healthy person keepsboth in balance." Several in my family are now worried that their own lives

may not be significant unless they serve mankind to make a really "big

difference". Requiring all of us to make a significant contribution to our

world may be appreciated by the rest of us, however the notion that this

behavior is essential for everyones existence to be relevant, or that their own

life lacks value without service to others, is absurd -- But I gave that notion

to them. Service to others is only a necessary requirement for idealists.Serving others may be important for those whose orientation to life differs

from mine, but, for most, may not be as essential for their existence to

become fulfilled as it is for me. Success for an individual of one type may

not be success for an individual of another type. Causing someone to

measure their life by your standards would cause conflict, or at the very leastbe stressful.


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We are each unique, even though we can be placed in at least four

distinct primary types, or categories. From the time of Aristotle, it has been

recognized that psychologically there are primarily four distinctly different

styles, or types, of personality, or temperament. Hippocrates outlined this

theory in 370 B.C. Each type share standards, or values, which primarily

dominate the life of its adherents. It would be rare, if not impossible, for an

individual to be able to claim more than one primary psychological type,although most people do have characteristics of one of the other types as a

secondary characteristic, which serves as a modifier, or conditioner, of their primary style of thinking. All people can be classified into one of these

sixteen sub-categories, or styles, which they retain for their lifetime.

Although people are capable of learning beyond the limitations of their

specific style, it requires significant effort, much like learning to write their

name with the opposite hand.Each style of thinking, or orientation to reality, is perfectly valid, and

can lead to a happy, successful life. Even though other styles emphasize

totally different approaches to self-fulfillment from my style, that of the

idealist, each of the alternative styles may be equally fulfilling and complete;

but only for those people within the same category. Understanding, at thevery least, which of the four primary psychological types we are provides a

great advantage in fulfilling our own existence. Understanding all sixteen

styles, or categories, aids in understanding how we may better interact with

others. Because each psychological type is a complete system unto itself for

perceiving reality, each leads to significantly different behavior. Although,

those sharing the same type will process the same, only those sharing the

same point of reference, or style, can measure their life with the same gauge.

Isabel Meyers, and her mother, Kathryn Briggs, brought substance to

the ancient psychological type theory by devising a simple questionnaire for

identifying our own psychological type in the early 1950s. David Keirsey,

more recently, amplified the theory in a book, that is still popular with

psychologists today, titled:Please Understand Me II. This book contains alittle more elaborate test that subdivides each psychological type into the

sixteen styles, or categories, showing the secondary characteristic types.

Thus, we can now easily identify our specific category, expressing our own

style of thinking. Keirsey then describes how each type behaves, and then

how each integrates together with all other types. Reading only a few pages,

we are left feeling that Keirsey knows us personally.

For an idealist, serving others is essential for his or her own

happiness because they are incapable of validating themselves. They simply

cannot internally do so. It is only through observing the reflection of their

acts from the reaction of others that "idealists" are able to see themselves.For rationalists, who primarily validate themselves from within,

imposing the requirement to serve others as a test of the quality of their ownlife seriously causes frustration. They cannot validate themselves through

the opinion of others. Not only are they skeptical of the opinion of others,


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they resent the intrusion of others opinions into their lives. They might want

to serve others, but only by choice. They do not feel the need to do so. Does

that make the rationalistan unworthy person? I hardly think so.There are competing theories overlapping Meyers-Briggs

psychological temperament types, providing other categorization by

measuring other characteristics. Likewise, there are some who have

expanded upon Maslows hierarchy of needs by developing sub-layers. Inaddition to styles of thinking, there are also, of course, differences among

cultural approaches to life. Review of these competing approaches, althoughperhaps valid in a more detailed study, is beyond the purpose of this paper.

Meyers-Briggs adequately demonstrates that it is all right for each of us to be

different. The point is that: Our own life may be fulfilled, and we canmaximize our life on earth, and become fully actualized, if we follow a pathconsistent with our own personality type. Now what does this statementmean?

I have identified my own type, as defined by Meyers-Briggs, as the

idealist. Since each type can contain secondary characteristics of one of theother types, only a few of us are exclusively within their own type. My

personal sub-type is identified by Keirsey as an idealist-idealist, which helabeled a "counselor". Counselors are only ten percent of the total number of

idealists, who, collectively, are less than ten percent of society. Therefore,only one percent of the people in the world think like I do. We idealists sharethe burden of requiring recognition from others to find our own self-worth -

and we are damned to the constant quest of seeking validation. We spend

our lives continuously giving ourselves away to others. If my wife does not

tell me that I am all right each day, I become unsure that I am. I must wear

out people requiring their continually reassuring me; but they know they can

trust me, and I that I will loyally serve them.

Idealists have many good qualities. They easily see the big picture,and are able to instantly put complex issues in proper perspective. It seems

natural for them to provide advice, solving all of the problems of otherpeople. They simply cannot solve their own problems without help, at least

not easily. They only know what is right for others. But, don't bother them

with details. Because they leap to the solution, idealists frustrate when aperson must explain each situation in detail. Others do this because that is

how they must process information. Idealist-idealist tend to make goodcounselors, thus the title. (That may explain why I practice law today.

However, I best not represent myself. In my empathy for others, I would

"give away the store".)

My wife thinks exactly opposite from me. Together, if we agree

upon anything, it is not only right, it is the safest approach for the fulfillment

of the needs of both of us. She is a rationalist. She must validate each step

for herself before she can proceed to the next step. She must first understandthe process to respect the result. My telling her the "answer," or what to do,

only frustrates her. For me, her effort is ponderous. For her it is essential,


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because truth is her most important consideration. For me, I can hardly stand

the frustration of barriers hindering my reaching my immediate goal. She

finds the journey equally important, and as rewarding as the objective.

Together she helps me stop to "smell the roses." She gets so absorbed in what

she is seeing that she forgets where she was going. My mind is already there,

but I cannot remember the route that I traveled.

We discovered our differences when we first went to buy a birthdaycard for a mutual friend. I immediately found a card containing the message I

wanted to convey and an acceptable design suitable for this friend. I wasready to buy it and get on with life. My wife was unwilling to buy any card

until she examined all of them to make sure the one I chose was the best.

You can imagine the discussion that ensued as we proceeded to frustrate each

other. If we had not found Meyers-Briggs, our relationship undoubtedly

could not have survived.We now have agreed to compromise. If I find a card that I like, I am

free to proceed to the register. In the meantime, my wife continues to

examine all other cards. If she finds one she likes better before I have paid, I

have agreed to buy her card without question. If I have paid for my card first,

my wife has agreed to leave with me, at least satisfied that it may not beperfect, but we did the best that we could for the moment. Of course, we no

longer put ourselves in that situation often. However, if it happens, at least

we now have a solution that avoids conflict.

The rationalistmust know "how" something happens. The idealist

cares about "why". I bought my wife three books on "How Things Work" at

a discount store. They intricately detailed the inner workings of the toaster,

refrigerator, an automobile engine, and the elevator in our building -- all the

important stuff you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask --

including the inner-workings of our airplane. I thought this is the perfect gift

for her. She promptly told me they were obsolete -- this, she critically

pointed out, is why the books were being discounted. That fact had not even

occurred to me. Our toaster still works the same way.When we take time to appreciate nature, I am interested in how what

we are seeing integrates into the natural world, and why all of this is part of

our universe in the first place. My wife sees the bunny in the road, stops to

smell the flowers beside our path, and gets totally immersed in our setting,

while I am aggressively seeking the end of the path. Since, for the rationalistthe journey has equal, if not greater, value than the destination, together, we

have enlarged our experiences by observing the world through each other's

eyes. We have discovered that neither of us is "wrong", just different. I like

the statement that "Nothing is neither right nor wrong, but thinking makes itso." Life is much richer when it can be appreciated from another'sperspective. There are advantages and disadvantages from either perspective.

Together, life can be much more fulfilling for each of us.As I mentioned, less than ten percent of our society are idealists, and

that my particular category as an idealist-idealistis limited to less than one


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percent. I do not share the sub-characteristics of any other psychological

type. There are very few people with whom I can fully relate. The rationalist

is even more rare. Collectively rationalists are only 6 percent of thepopulation. My wife has always wondered why no one else appears to think

like she does. Because she is a "rationalist," and is fully content validating

herself, she did not feel it important enough to find out why. Although she

knows she is different, it really does not matter to her what others think. Ihad to discover why I am different. First, I must understand the bigger

picture to make sense of anything.Meyers-Briggs discovered that approximately forty-five percent of

the people in our society are "guardians." They have an expectation thateveryone should abide by "the rules", and they spend significant effort

assuring that they do. Guardians make wonderful schoolteachers, police

officers, homemakers, ministers, nurses and physicians, as well as manyother professional positions where dependability is a primary concern. They

must provide for everyone else. Everyone needs guardians. They get thingsdone now, without question, because they feel obligated. It is the "right"

thing to do. In addition, they make sure that everyone else is doing their job.

Idealists may have originated the project. However, if they did not,idealists will be considering why the project needed to get done in the first

place, while rationalists will be thinking about how to do it. Once

rationalists understand the required process, they will get the work done.They are pleased that someone else originated the project. Guardians will be

busy organizing the members of the committee to get the job done. Artisanswill be more concerned with whether there may be a better way. They may

not be interested in getting the work done themselves, unless they created the

project. Fortunately for the rest of us,guardians are the largest category.

Guardians will do everything for everybody, but they do need

constant praise and reward, or they resent having to do it. Their anger at not

being appropriately appreciated can become consuming. It accumulates.

Because they may be relied upon, guardians are the ones to call to managethe church dinner -- but do not fail to spell their name correctly in the church

bulletin. If the church fails to provide recognition, the rationalistmay not

notice, the idealistwould quit participating. The guardian would resent it, butwould begrudgingly continue to serve out of a sense of duty. Keep up

forgetting to recognize them, however, and guardians will eventually quit indisgust. In the meantime, Guardians would be infuriated with the idealistforquitting. The rationalistwould still be washing the dishes, ignoring everyone

else.

The rest of society may be classified as "artisans." In the example ofthe church dinner above, the artisan may not have shown up. If they had toshow up they would be decorating the tables. Artisans are capable of seeing

their world without restraint. They do not like routine. Artisans may ignoresociety norms because they do not accept living "inside of the box." In

contrast, theguardian (and the idealist) feels life is scary outside of the box.


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Theguardian attempts to put everyone back in the box. While the idealistisworrying about why there is a box in the first place, and whether it is the

right box, the rationalistis trying to figure out how they got in there.

Artisans obviously make great artists. They are frequently good musicians,actors and advertising agents. Artisans can also become very good

politicians. However, many are the criminals who cannot be controlled by

society. A large percentage of social deviants may be artisans. Artisans canreally frustrate the guardian. Guardians feel that no one should ignore the

rules! Rationalists can ignore artisans, unless they are imposed upon. Theidealistwill appreciate the creativity of an artisan, but have little tolerance

for any deviation that does not move toward a positive goal.

What does all this have to do with the quality of our own life?

Everything! Each person is entitled to maximize his or her own existence.

The path to achieve a successful life is the point of my previous paper. Withthe additional explanation of this paper, perhaps we can now understand how

the application of Maslow's psychology will vary depending upon the style

of our individual thinking. Success can only be measured personally. There

is no known universal purpose for life.

Knowing who we are, and what this means for ourselves, increasesour opportunity for living a successful life. Since our own psychological

composition is unique, understanding ourselves is essential to empower us,

and enhance our chance of success. Not knowing leaves us vulnerable.

Assuming others think (from the same perspective or baseline) as we do may

be disastrous for any relationship. Thus, from any perspective, first knowing

who we are becomes critical.

Our reactions when the person we are with stops to examine the

flowers, while we are eager to get to the place we are going, can be

interpreted by the companion as an irritant, showing a lack of concern for

what is then important to them, or it could be viewed by us as an opportunity

to expand our own horizon. We project to others our own point of reference.

One approach limits our own existence; the other enhances our life.Understanding the differences between two people can only expand our own

horizon, and enrich our life far beyond what could be achieved on our own.

Together both become deeper and more fulfilled.

The rationalistcauses the idealist, artisan orguardian to stop andsmell the roses. The idealistexpands the horizon and goals for all othertypes. The guardian can feel more genuine with the idealist, more inspiredby the artisan, perhaps more genuinely understood by the rationalist. The

point is that interaction with each type will provide a different result.

Combining types in a relationship enhances both, but only if each can accept

the other as they are without trying to change them.

Although knowing who we are is the necessary first step, attempting

to change who we are is psychologically dangerous, if not impossible. Forthe right-handed person to be told they can only sign their name left-handed

causes as much stress as ignoring our own personality psychological type can


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cause us. It will not be natural for us to even try and act with any other style.

Someone else requiring a change in our basic nature would be resented. We

are who we are for life.

Any relationship with another person is enhanced if we accept our

style and recognize the differences in the style of our partner. Integrating

ourselves with the positive qualities of another person enriches our own life.

We become more of a whole person when another person fulfills ourweaknesses. By understanding psychological types we can reduce negative

effects so that weaknesses in our own psychological type does not become adominant weakness, which could cause barriers in relationships with others.

By fully utilizing our own strengths, and bridging our weaknesses with the

strengths of others, we can enhance both our own existence, and our

relationships with others.

Knowing Meyers-Briggs theory, and the differences amongpsychological types, does not end problems of integrating with others, but it

can broaden our perspective and increase tolerance of differences. Integrating

with someone who has strengths in ones own area of weakness minimizes

weaknesses that otherwise could cause barriers or dominate ones life only if

you submit to the influence of the other person. Not knowing ones own typemay result in misinterpretation of the behavior of others, which may result in

friction between the individuals. More important, knowing ones self affords

the opportunity to manage the effect one has upon others, and they upon you.

This improved understanding should facilitate traveling successfully through

life together. In other words, it opens new doors in life for you.

Accepting, as proposed by Maslow, that the purpose for our own life

is to actualize our own existence, after we know ourselves, and reduce the

barriers for our own growth, especially those caused before our age of

reason, our pursuit is to proceed naturally through life. If we are successful,

our goal is to finally arrive at a point of peak experience where our life is

fully in tune, or resonating, with the world around us. Thanks to the insight

of Maslow, we will then know that we have maximized our own existence, atleast for that moment. Although the purpose that fulfills our own life will be

unique, knowing that there is a universal process for our own growth makes

the journey easier, even though the specific path we must find for ourselves.

Success is measured by the journey, not just the result.

Each peak experience will only be transitory. They are rare even for

those individuals fortunate to function predominantly at the highest levels.

No one can sustain life at the peak. However, having achieved a peak

experience you will then know that you have fulfilled your potential for that

moment. Once one has this experience their life will be changed forever,

because they will then know the feeling of having fully lived. Thereafter

actualized people continually strive to sustain a full range of living.

The only thing we, as humans, know for certain is that we currentlyexist, and that we have this opportunity to live our life here on earth today.

What we do with our life is important, if only to us. There is good if we can


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enrich the lives of succeeding generations during our journey, or otherwise

improve our world, because that, itself, is a form of immortalizing our

existence. But is having a lasting effect on others important to everyone, or is

that obligation only important to we idealists? We can now recognize thatthis approach is only one form of a good life.

I often think of a person I know with an intellectual challenge, whose

quality of life is dependent upon Good Will Industries. What would he havedone if they did not exist? Upon the loss of his parents, or other caregivers,

my friend could be among the many homeless wandering our streets--orwould not survive. Alone he could not exist above an animal level, or, in

Maslow's terms, a basic existence. With the continual assistance of others he

now barely lives on the lower social level, but that is at least two levels

above what he could accomplish on his own. He cannot care for himself, let

alone assist in the growth of anyone else. Does this mean that his life is notsignificant, or worth living? Not to him.

When analyzed, for my friend, his own existence may be all that is

truly relevant. That does not mean that he does not care about others. He

feels that he is doing good when he smiles and says hello to everyone he

meets. He knows no strangers. He does not need to write a book, or even apage on the meaning of life, or be able to play a piano, for his own life to

have meaning for himself. He only has to live his own existence to the best

of his ability for his own life to have genuine value for himself. As a matter

of fact it may be easier for this person to actualize his own existence than for

anyone else I know because, although he has some barriers to overcome--

which others may resolve for him-- he does not create many psychological

barriers of his own. We more normal folk have many more barriers

because we more easily absorb cultural limitations, or establish artificial

goals, that my friend does not perceive.

Those who may care for my friend are able to enhance their lives by

providing his necessary services. The result of their effort to enrich his life

gives the guardian a sense of purpose. The idealist may gain satisfactionfrom serving on the Good Will Board, or raising funds to assure its continued

existence. The rationalistmight find value feeding the homeless from the

Red Cross truck, or from buying products sold at the Good Will store. The

artisan may have designed the brochure that raised the money, supportingthe institution's future so that it can perform its mission. Each benefits the

quality of his or her own life by making a contribution to my friend's

existence. None do so expecting appreciation from my friend, but if it were

received, it certainly would reinforce their continued effort.

The real purpose for each person's participation in supporting my

friend's needs is not only the client served. It is each person fulfilling who

they are. Each of us continuously struggles to improve our current position in

life, socially and economically, as well as enhancing our sense of self-worth.True, the idealistmay need the constant praise of others to be able to raisemoney for the institution in order for it to continue. The artisan may gain


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more satisfaction by submitting their brochure for competition among other

artisans. The guardian will also want some show of recognition fromsomeone for his or her effort, in addition to their own knowledge that what

he or she is doing is right. The rationalistwill know that they have donesomething that is good regardless of whether anyone else knows they were

there. The motivator for all the needed activity benefiting my friend is for

each of us to move toward our own fulfillment, in our own way, through ourparticipation together in helping my friend. As a side benefit, it helps all of

us knowing that we are doing good for someone who needs our help.Some believe that people are born totally malleable. That is not true.

Psychological types, of course, can be influenced by culture or environment.

The person raised in a Muslim society will have different values, which

produce differing behaviors, than a person raised in a predominantly

Christian culture. For those with the same psychological type, theirrespective style of thinking, or orientation for processing information, will be

the only factor that is the same. Their needs could be identical. However,

their reactions to the same stimuli will vary because they will interpret the

stimuli differently because of their own psychological type, differing life

experiences, and their cultural point of reference. Differing behavior does notmean that the style of thinking, or psychological type, is different. Those of

us within the same category, or style, will behave differently depending upon

both internal and external factors that influence us. Even though those within

the same psychological style process the same, the resulting behavior may be

different.

Michael Jackson appears to be an artisan. If his parents are artisansthat could explain why he appears to others that he might feel he can live

outside of our society's rules. Had guardians raised him, he would most likely

have been required to live within society's rules as a small child. If so, his

behaviors today could well be different. (He would have learned how to be

just as talented artistically, but, possibly, would be more apt to function

within society's rules.) However, he would still be an artisan. He cannot beanything else. Being an artisan, does not mean his behavior has to liveoutside acceptable societal norms. He simply thinks outside of the box.

The real message for each of us is to be ourselves. First we must

find ourselves. Only then can we be authentic, leading to fulfillment of those

needs that make our life meaningful for our self. Once we know our self, and

remove barriers that limit our growth, our own life can become richer and

more fulfilled as we integrate ourselves constructively into the world around

us. When we become the best that we individually are capable of becoming,

we will have fulfilled our own purpose for existing. There is no common

goal for all; only the process of progressing through the hierarchy of needs

for fulfillment is the same for each of us. What Maslow contributed is

understanding of the process of how we become fulfilled in our life, and thenshowing us the path for integrating ourselves into the reality of our

environment. He provides us the structure for our individual path for growth,


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whereby each of us can actualize our existence. We now realize that we must

provide the goal for our self.

We each need to strive for all of our needs being reasonably

satisfied, so that we are then free to resonate with our reality, and are able to

achieve a " peak experience," at that moment we will appreciate that

everything in our life feels in place, and all aspects of our life will then

appear to be right. Happiness will be the content feeling we have fromfeeling fulfilled. At the moment of a peak experience we will have the

exhilarating, and maybe even scary, feeling of awareness that is a rare insightinto our personal universe. These moments of intense insight, according to

Maslow, demonstrate that we have arrived at complete fulfillment, or

actualization, where nothing else, or no other need or deficiency, is

compelling our behavior. Thanks to Maslow, we now know that this is the

state that we each should continually seek.Even though achieving that point in our existence is, according to

Maslow, the purpose for our individual life, we know that arriving at this

point will be uniquely experienced by each of us since we are not destined

for a specific existence. Not only does the path vary for each of us as our

needs and values vary, our view of the world, and what we considerimportant will be significantly different for each of us. Understanding

ourselves is difficult. It is even more complicated analyzing another

considering the differences between those with different psychological types.

Only those with the same psychological type can even begin to view their

world from the same perspective. Our differences are what make the world

challenging, and exciting.

We now know that there are at least four distinct psychological

types, which are overall approaches to life, which further subdivide into

sixteen subtypes, or styles, defining how we react within the larger frame of

reference as the software controlling our thought process. Our psychological

type frames our reality throughout our lifetime, giving us a point of reference

from which we develop our values, and then serves as a filter for the receiptof all information upon which our life is dependent. We know that everyone

may be classified within one of the sixteen psychological styles.

As I previously stated, as an idealist, only two aspects of life arerelevant for me. My life is "meaningful" to the extent I achieve actualization

by reaching the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. My life is "significant"

to the extent that the world is a better place because I have been here. To be

healthy, I must keep both in balance. Considering only these two values

leading to a successful life to make my point, lets explore how others could

respond very differently to the same circumstance, or stimuli. Keep in mind

that the response to other values will equally differ. Thus, there are multiple

approaches to a successful life.

When each of us adopts a primary path for our self, all other goals become insignificant for us. It is our lifetime effort for us to continually

rediscover and focus our life on our own path. To actualize our existence, our


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path through life becomes our personal mission statement. What is truly

relevant in each life should be reduced to a simple statement if we intend for

it to become our goal. Consider what is truly meaningful and significant

for you. To illustrate the point, if you are not an idealist,

the typical artisan could say:

"My life is meaningful to the extent that I am creativelyengaged, to the degree that I am excited about all of the

opportunities in life that I perceive. My life is significantwhen I have made a unique contribution, or creative work,

that is really me, and is generously prized by others."

the typicalguardian could say:

"My life is meaningful when I am accepted by others forwhom I care, if I am secure in my role in life, my family and

significant others are safe, and my own world feels to me to

then be in order. I feel that my life is significant when I am

in charge of what I do, and I am appreciated by others for

what I provide."

the typical rationalistcould say:"My life is meaningful when my life is peaceful; when I

know what is true, and I am fully functioning in the world, at

least to the degree that I am comfortable in my own role.

My life is significant when I feel my own contribution has

succeeded better than in my previous efforts, and I know that

my own efforts are right."

The statement for each of us may only be valid for the moment, and

typically may vary as we mature (although my statement has remained

constant for over 40 years) and our mission becomes more focused. The

youngerrationalistwill be more concerned with understanding how they areto accomplish the specific task in which they are engaged. As the rationalistages, the need to know enlarges, and they eventually need to know how

everything works in their life. Everyone feels similar experience as our goals

in life shift and expand as we mature.

Although everyone's psychological type, or approach to life, is hard

wired, our particular answer to what is important in life, at any moment,

may be tentative. It is only the processing that will be consistent. The result

can only be similar for others within the same category, or psychological

type, of thinking who have reached the same level of growth.

It is fortunate that there is no universal truth, no single answer for the

purpose for life--although each of us will continue to assume everyone else

understands us and, at least, should agree with us. Imagine how boring theworld would be if we all had to agree. Our mission statement is right, and the

only one that works, only for us. It is good that each person will approach


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actualizing their existence, and fulfilling their needs in a different manner

depending upon their psychological type, or style of thinking, because their

differences adds to the quality of our life.

We also know, which was described in detail in my previous paper,

as long as we achieve being the best that we can be for ourselves, our life

will have fulfilled its own purpose for living. We need nothing more for life

to have meaning. We will have fully lived.For me, as an idealist, I still contend that only two aspects of life

remain truly relevant:"My life is meaningful for me to the extent that I share in

happiness, and achieve actualization of my own existence.

My life is significant to the extent that the world is a

better place because I have been here. I believe that

healthy people must keep both in balance."And I still know that I am right! However, we now know that you are right

too.

By living a life consistent with how we have each been programmed,

and removing any barriers blocking our way, we can continually grow along

our natural path from the point of our birth throughout the end of our life.Maslows contribution to our life is the understanding that if we carefully

satisfy our needs on each level, maintaining a proper balance between them,

we can eventually fully actualize our own existence. We can then tune

ourselves to our reality, and be able to resonate in harmony with our

universe. When we have a peak experience we will know that we are then

fully alive. At least for that moment our life is fulfilled. From then on, if we

are able to sustain our commune with nature, even our own death can then be

accepted. Our life will have fulfilled its purpose.

Bibliography

Abraham H. Maslow, The Further Reaches of Human Nature, (New York:

The Viking Press, 1971)(New York: Penquin Books, 1976; Arkana,1993)

David Keirsey,Please Understand Me II, (Del Mar, CA: Prometheus

Nemesis Book Company, 1998)

Lyle L. Simpson, "Abraham Maslow's Purpose For Your Life", inEssays Inthe Philosophy of Humanism, Humanist's of Houston, Volume 11,pp. 21-43, 2002).


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Documents

Lyle L. Simpson - WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE? A SEQUEL TO A HUMANIST PERSPECTIVE: MASLOW