What does it mean to live a good life? In American culture, we might think it means to be financially prosperous, successful in a career. Perhaps have a long marriage with children who grow up to be likewise prosperous and successful. Is the good life something on the outside, or does it come from within?
Another trailblazer in the field of psychology, Dr. Rogers spoke of the fully functioning person. The actualized human being, the one living what he called the good life. It truly sounds wonderful to live this way. Here's a list.
- Lives life fully, being open to what is going on in the present moment without defensiveness.
- This results in excitement, daring, adaptability, tolerance, spontaniety, a lack of rigidity.
- Trusts one's own judgment and innate sense of right and wrong.
- Has freedom of choice. Believes that he determines his own behavior and so feels responsible for it.
- Is creative in self-expression. Also creative in adapting to circumstances without conforming.
- Acts constructively. Is aware of all his needs, and finds even aggressive needs matched and balanced by the innate goodness in similar individuals.
- Experiences joy and pain, love and heartbreak, fear and courage intensely.
Susan
Interesting, Susan. But what is meant by "finds even aggressive needs matched and balanced by the innate goodness in similar individuals"? What are these aggressive needs, and how does the goodness in others balance them?
ReplyDeleteI don't know for sure but I will guess. Rogers was a humanist so he believed in the inherent goodness of people, and he started his career working with children. Maybe aggressive needs are anti-social, like we are kids and I want your toy. So I just grab it from you. Then I see that it made you sad or mad and that's not a good result. I also see that other kids behave more cooperatively, so maybe I balance my approach and ask if I can play with the toy when you are done with it. From what I can find, his exact words are "even aggressive needs are matched and balanced by the intrinsic goodness in congruent individuals."
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