Self Actualization: Are You Ready to Map Out Your Journey?

“With a clue like this, by Christopher, we’ll have Flint’s treasure if it takes a year!”

You probably remember the story of Treasure Island, although, depending on your age, your exposure to the story might have come via the original story by Robert Lewis Stephenson, the movie by Disney, the wacky Muppets version, or even the futuristic cartoon, Treasure Planet. All of the versions revolve around one central item:  the Treasure Map.  The map will lead its lucky possessor to untold treasures .

If you’ve been following along with my blogs over the last couple of months  and doing the quizzes and activities, then you’re ready to create a map to the most precious treasure of all – your future of fulfillment and self actualization.

The precise way you create your map is largely a matter of your skills and supplies, but however you decide to create it, it should include reflections of your True Self (Personality, Passions, Principles, and Purpose), your anchor, your emblem, your aspects (self, partner, family, friends, community, career & finances, living environment and health and recreation) and any symbols or pictures that represent your vision of  self actualization.  Here are some possible approaches you can take:

• Poster.  Assemble poster board with graphics and tactile objects that have meaning to you.  Use markers or crayons to add colorful reminders.
• Painting.  If you’re artistic, draw or paint a painting with elements that represent your vision.
• Graphic layout.  Use your favorite photo design program to design your tangible reminder.  Include photos or other visuals to build your mental picture.
• Scrapbooking.  If you’re into making scrapbooks or memory books, you can make a “vision” book for yourself, using magazine clippings and other enhancements.
• Stitching.  If you’re skilled at stitching, crossstitch, knit or needlepoint an enduring representation of your vision.  Make a wall-hanging or quilt with appliquéd squares that represent elements of your future.
• Writing.  If you’re a wordsmith, write a letter to “You in Twenty Years,” (or One, Ten or even Fifty) describing what you want to do, accomplish, be before you die.   Include lots of details; really create a concrete picture.

The important thing isn’t how you make your visual aid, but the fact that you do – the fact that you take the time to immerse yourself into your vision of your future.  If you want to make that vision a reality, you have to see it, feel it, taste it. Create the treasure map that will lead you to your future, step by step, because what you do in your present – this moment, and then this moment, and then this moment – that is what will create your future.